Top CrossFit Gyms In Denver

The Daily Meal Staff|Sept. 19, 2014 7:00 am EST

CrossFit Broadway (credit: CBS)

CrossFit may seem like the latest fitness craze sweeping the nation, however it really isn't anything that new. Originally founded in 1996, CrossFit was the concept of Greg Glassman and Lauren Jenai. The program is an intense exercise philosophy and a competitive fitness sport. It incorporates elements from Olympic weightlifting, powerlifting, gymnastics, calisthenics and more while focusing on aerobic exercise, stamina, endurance, strength, flexibility, speed and balance. When you join a CrossFit gym, you complete a Workout of the Day that is posted on the gym or national company's website. It is a fun way to add some challenge into your workout, especially for those who really enjoy competition. If you are looking to get into the CrossFit team, here are a few great places to start.

CrossFit Denver
130 Lipan St.
Denver, CO 80223
(720) 515-9438
www.crossfitdenver.com

CrossFit Denver was the first public CrossFit gym in Colorado. There is a huge staff full of very experienced instructors ready to help you achieve all of your fitness goals in a safe and friendly environment. Beginners will enjoy the Elements program, which is comprised of three one-hour sessions that will teach you all of the basic skills of the CrossFit program so that you can participate in the Workout of the Day classes with the rest of the members. These courses are a great way to get to know the system while learning how to scale the more difficult movements depending on your own physical ability. Once you master the Elements, you'll join in with the Workout of the Day classes, where you will really start to see some impressive results.

CrossFit LoDo
2363 Blake St.
Denver, CO 80205
(720) 244-3331
www.crossfitlodo.com

Men's Fitness Magazine recently awarded CrossFit Lodo with one of the Top 10 CrossFit Gyms in America, which means this is a truly great place to go for all your CrossFit needs. The programs here are in a group setting with a certified coach. You'll build your own athleticism as you compete against yourself with all of the CrossFit techniques that have proven to be so effective. There are usually several Workouts of the Day for levels one and two as well as Olympic training, strength training and endurance. Keep things interesting during the Sunday Mystery Workout of the Day, you won't know what you'll be doing till you get there.

CrossFit Verve
3344 Walnut St.
Denver, CO 80205
(720) 238-7783
www.crossfitverve.com

CrossFit Verve offers several different CrossFit programs, depending on your skills and needs. You can jump into the Workout of the Day, which are scale-able and modified to fit your athletic abilities. Or you can join the CrossFit Skilz program which is a good place to start for those who want to build a stronger base of conditioning, strength and technique first. There is even an Endurance program that adds rowing and running into the Workout of the Day for those looking for a more intensive technique, and a CrossFit Moms course for pre- and post-natal women of all ages. You can even bring your baby and you'll have the ability to stop and check on your child as much as you need. It's a wonderful course for busy moms who want to bring their baby (up to age three) with them to the gym. With CrossFit Kids, Gymnastics, Coaches Courses and much more, it's clear that CrossFit Verve is another great gym to learn the CrossFit ways.

CrossFit Wash Park
685 S. Broadway., Suite B
Denver, CO 80209
(505) 980-6198
www.crossfitwashpark.com

At CrossFit Wash Park, you can try a free trial course to check out the program before you jump in. The level one courses are offered several times throughout the week while the more experienced CrossFitters can jump into any class at any time. The team at CrossFit Wash Park clearly believes in celebrating the accomplishments and being a part of the community, as it also hosts a gym-wide event once a month where you can join other gym members for happy hours, volleyball and other fun outings. You'll also love the professional coaches here that work hard to help you get everything you want out of the CrossFit system. Plus you'll get lots of individual attention in each class, as there are usually no more than 12 athletes per course.

CrossFit Broadway
227 Broadway
Denver, CO 80203
(720) 545-7119
www.crossfitbroadway.com

CrossFit Broadway is another great gym in the Denver area offering the CrossFit system to people of all abilities. If you are brand new to CrossFit, you'll want to schedule a free introductory session so you can get to know what CrossFit is all about. Then you'll take the Elements Course, which will teach you everything from the squats to the pushes to the lifts and all of the other techniques you will be using in the regular courses. There are nine elements classes to master before you can graduate from the Elements Course at CrossFit Broadway. Then you can join in the Workout of the Day and the other courses that are offered. You can also sign up for one-on-one coaching if you prefer a private coaching style, which comes with a nutrition and diet assessment so you can really achieve all your fitness goals.

Deborah Flomberg is a theater professional, freelance writer and Denver native. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.