Meet Your Neighbor: Stokes opens CrossFit in Clyde
CLYDE - About six years ago, Jeremy Stokes, a 10-year Navy veteran, walked into a CrossFit gym expecting to ease into the workouts. He routinely lifted weights and ran for exercise, but his first CrossFit experience showed him he had a long way to go.
“I had chased a lot of things fitness-related. I used to go to the gym and run a mile and do the bench. I thought I was getting strong, and then I went to my first CrossFit,” Stokes said. “After the first year, I knew this was for me, and I became a coach.”
Stokes has been coaching CrossFit for five years
Stokes has been a CrossFit coach for five years, and he opened Clyde Union CrossFit on Jan. 2. He is a certified Level 1 coach and is nearing Level 2.
CrossFit workouts focus on functional movement.
“Everything we do is functional movement that you do every day. Sitting in a chair is equivalent to a squat,” Stokes said. “We do jumping, stretching, pulling, pushing. We change the workout every day. Everything we do is a combination of weights, strength training, cardio, endurance, balance and agility. Mobility — range of motion — is the big thing we work on.”
When a client enters the gym for a class, they’ll see a list of exercises that can be tailored to meet their needs and fitness level.
“It’s all scalable to the collegiate athlete or to my mom, who comes in every Saturday to get a workout with me,” Stokes said. “It’s modified to where you’re at and modified for your safety.”
Stokes creates workouts based on measurable achievements so clients can identify successes, areas that need improvement, and the practicality of exercises to their needs.
“We want things that are measurable, so we know what’s working,” he said. “You’ll never be stagnant in your workouts. They are always evolving.”
From there, goals can be set, met and reset.
CrossFit gyms are known for a community atmosphere
“Within a short amount of time, you realize how much fitter you can be and much you can do and enjoy just by following the program,” Stokes said. “It opens the eyes to what you can do.”
CrossFit gyms are known for their community atmosphere, and Clyde Union CrossFit has developed that camaraderie in the few months it has been open.
“Old members want new members to do better,” Stokes said.
That became apparent when members competed in the worldwide, online CrossFit Open competition in February.
“When we finished the Open, our members were already looking for the next community event to do together,” Stokes said.
On April 29, some of the Clyde Union CrossFit members will join the Run for the BOOM 5k in Green Springs. The event, which is open to the public, will raise funds for the village’s 4th of July celebration.
Stokes wants to bring the CrossFit fitness philosophy into the community, so he is looking for opportunities to offer classes off-site.
“My biggest goal is to not just bring people here but to exercise, but to bring the gym out to the community,” he said.
Clyde Union CrossFit offers a free, two-week trial. Active military and veterans always receive a 50% discount. Class schedules and registration are available at apps.apple.com/us/app/stream-fitness-member/id1599280771. It is at 7421 Ohio 101 North in Clyde. For more information, visit the Clyde Union CrossFit Facebook page or email them at clydeunioncrossfit@gmail.com.
Contact correspondent Sheri Trusty at sheritrusty4@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Meet Your Neighbor: Stokes opens CrossFit in Clyde
