Today’s kids stay in shape with CrossFit in Chicago

Editor’s note: This story originally was published Oct. 23, 2013 in the Chicago Sun-Times.

Park district soccer isn’t the only option to get your child active anymore. More and more parents are turning to specialized workouts and personal trainers to ensure children who aren’t interested in sports or have trouble maintaining a healthy weight get physical activity.

Windy City CrossFit (4043 N. Ravenswood) offers classes for kids as young as 4 in the high intensity strength training and conditioning that is popular with fit adults .

CrossFit is designed to give adults a broad fitness base no matter where they start. With the younger set, they’re encouraged to improve their personal best times in obstacle courses without competing with one another.

The 4- to 7-year-olds are mainly learning how to follow the leader and hold their bodies in safe positions for future training, according to Windy City CrossFit kids coach Megan Tormey.

The classes for 8- to 12-year-olds introduce some barbell and kettlebell movements using equipment no heavier than 15 pounds.

“The 4- to 7-year-olds are just using their body weight. We’ve done research [that shows] at this age, its more important for basic resistance,” Tormey said.

Parents who are CrossFit aficionados themselves have sought out the classes — which cost between $20 and $25 a visit — to either get their kids moving or prepared for competitive sports, according to Tormey.

Read the complete story here.

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