Bench Day!!!!

For tomorrow’s strength session, we are excited to add a new item to our repertoire, the bench press. This has been a movement that was originally frowned upon in the CrossFit community as it wasn’t considered a very functional movements (any exercise down lying down doesn’t seem valid in the real world) but over the years we have seen the value of this movement.  It has even gotten to the point where it is being tested by the top CrossFit athletes in competition.

CrossFit has focused very much on overhead movements such as jerks and overhead squats as they lead to the development of the midline (core strength) and mobility.  The bench press allows us to balance our vertical pressing with horizontal pressing.  Programmed and taught correctly, the bench press will allow you to develop scapular control which is so important in the shoulder as well as strength gains in all the pressing muscles.

And finally, which should not be underestimated but it’s just plain fun. There is nothing like a group of athletes gathering around a bench, chatting it up while they are working to develop fitness for a lifetime.