**Be sure to read all the way to the end to find out about our ROM WOD CHALLENGE starting Monday, May 8!!**
CrossFit Pushin Weight built an entire room in the new gym dedicated to ROM WOD. What's all the hype about?
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ROM WOD stands for Range of Motion Workout of the Day. ROM WOD is a daily Yin Yoga video series that, if used consistently, will help you become more mobile, flexible, and strong.
Flexibility is critical to strength.
Without stretching, muscles shorten and become tight. Tight muscles cannot extend all the way, so when you lift a load with them (a barbell, dumbbell, laundry basket, or even your own body weight) you are at risk for joint pain, muscle strains, muscle damage, and all kinds of injuries. Regular stretching keeps muscles long, lean, and healthy.
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But muscles aren't the only thing important to strength. Your joints, connective tissue, ligaments, tendons, and fascia all play important roles. According to Daniel Head, the creator of ROM WOD, the only way to really target that connective tissue is through passive positions that are longer than a minute. He describes this as a "slow yielding process" over many weeks and months, and compares it to having braces on your teeth. Your teeth don't move into position right away; they shift slowly and consistently over time. (Check out this podcast to hear the interview that inspired this post)
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This passive, yielding, holding style of stretching is called Yin Yoga. Compare that to Vinyasa (or even Bikram) Yoga, which are heat-creating, movement-based, and flow through postures more quickly (still great for your muscles). Daniel Head says Yin Yoga it is often overlooked because it is difficult and takes tremendous patience. And though you'll feel relaxed, loose, and less sore after one (on average 20 minute) session, the real benefits come from after months of consistent practice.
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To cultivate this consistent practice at CrossFit Pushin Weight and help you get stronger and more mobile, we are having a ROM WOD challenge! CrossFit Pushin Weight ROM WOD Challenge Start date: Monday, May 8 End date: Sunday, June 5 The challenge: Every time you do a ROM WOD routine at CrossFit Pushin Weight, you will be entered to win a prize. We will draw a name on every Sunday (4 times total), so the more times you ROMWOD in a week, the more times your name will be entered. There will also be a prize for the overall winner for the full 30 days.
The fine print: The routine must be completed from start to finish, and must be done at CrossFit Pushin Weight (not at home). We have a gym account that is signed in on the TV in the ROMWOD room. Your progress will be self-reported, by putting a star by your name and the date on the poster on the ROMWOD room door. (You can only earn one star per day).
