Have you ever walked into the gym, glanced at the WOD and immediately thought, “There’s no way I’m doing that.”?
Most workouts you see on the whiteboard are written as “RX” or as prescribed. But you may not be able to do a workout because it includes a particular skill you have yet to master, a load you have yet to lift or you’re managing a previous injury. No matter the reason, if you can’t do every workout exactly as it’s written, that’s okay! Because you can scale. Rhapsody makes scaling workouts a breeze with Level 1 and Level 2 options in addition to the RX version.
While there are many different ways to scale within a workout, scaling is not:
- Cheating.
- Phoning it in.
- Embarrassing.
Scaling makes it possible for a room full of people with varying backgrounds and fitness levels to do the “same” workout. Rather than feeling bad about not doing a workout as RX or risking injuring yourself by pushing beyond your current limits, scaling gives you the option to still have a quality, safe and fun workout. Which makes scaling:
- A great idea.
- Smart and intentional.
- An art.
Scaling Is an Art
Within a WOD, you can scale the load, the number of reps or the movements. But there is no one perfect way to scale a workout. How you choose to modify a workout comes down to you, your fitness level and your fitness goals.
How to Best Scale a Workout
1. Maintain the Purpose of a WOD
When you scale a WOD, the goal is to end up producing the same intensity as the way it was programmed. Let’s say the workout includes 95-pound thrusters, and that load is too heavy for you. Dropping down to 35 pounds would certainly be more manageable, but you’d likely miss out on the strength component of the workout. Try to scale so that you’re still matching the intention of the workout. Your coaches will always help you figure out the best way to do this.
2. Make Progress Toward a Skill
If you scale a workout because it includes a skill you don’t quite have yet, scale while finding ways to keep challenging yourself. Most skills have a progression that you can work through until you’ve mastered the technique. It might be tempting to stick with the movements that you’re comfortable with, but if you never push yourself to the next level, your progress will stall out.
3. Find Your Best Workout
Always scale so that the end result is a great workout for you. Find a scaling option that gives you your best workout; don’t matter what everyone else in the class is doing. Remember, scaling is not cheating. And you’re not getting any less of a workout than someone who does everything as Rx’d.
Are you interested in making classes at Rhapsody Fitness part of your workout routine? To learn more about Rhapsody Fitness in Charleston and our range of programs, get in touch with Team Rhapsody today.
