At Brethren CrossFit, the timeless New Year’s resolution of getting in shape can become a reality for those who dare to step inside the Morgan Hill-based fitness gym stashed in the Jarvis Drive business park.
“It’s a great time to re-set and re-focus,” said the always energized owner/trainer Lee Pappas, whose local CrossFit program turned seven years old Jan. 5. “The best, fastest and most fun way to get in shape is to participate in this class.”
Pappas, who has called Morgan Hill his home since 1998, is a CrossFit Level 1 certified trainer and has been for the last 10 years. He leads many of the one-hour classes scheduled between 5:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. throughout the week, follows a paleo diet and competes in the sport of CrossFit like some of his Brethren pupils.
“We make it fun so people feel comfortable here regardless of their background or fitness level,” said Pappas, who uses “scale-ability” in workouts for each individual he trains as well as those seen by his seven other trainers. “We make this a second home and a family-type atmosphere.”
For the last six-plus years, local financial advisor Brad Ledwith has worked out at Brethren CrossFit. His 2009 New Year’s resolution was to lose weight and he’s stuck with it, dropping 65 pounds since making the leap of faith.
“The reason why is it’s always something different when you come here to work out,” said Ledwith, who admits he can’t do all the demanding exercises in the varied CrossFit regimen. But that doesn’t matter one bit. “Everybody can participate, from a paralyzed person to a world class athlete, and that’s what makes it cool.”
CrossFit, which was founded by former gymnast Greg Glassman, is “a strength and conditioning fitness methodology that promotes broad and general overall physical fitness using a myriad of exercises more commonly found in the activities of weightlifting, sprinting and gymnastics,” according to crossfitiota.com.
For stay-at-home mother Kim Platt, of Gilroy, the CrossFit lifestyle fits right in with her daily routine. After she drops off her children at school, Platt heads over to Brethren CrossFit to get her daily workout in before it’s pick-up time in the afternoon. She’s been doing it five days a week for the last two years.
“I haven’t looked back and wished I started earlier,” said Platt, who uses the new year to reboot and, of course, work off any excess calories enjoyed over the holidays with family and friends. “I think that’s ingrained in us: the new year is a fresh start.”
The hardest part, according to Platt, is walking in the gym door and getting started on that New Year’s resolution of shedding pounds and feeling better about yourself. After that, it becomes routine.
“You’ve got to start somewhere,” she said. “You set goals every day.”
On the first Tuesday of 2016, Live Oak High School alumnus Kyle Venegas—a part-time trainer and full-time CrossFitter—is awaiting the lunchtime class at Brethren. Despite already being in good shape, Venegas said the new year is pivotal for everyone.
“It definitely gives the fitness community an idea for new goals, reflection of the previous year and seeing where you want to go the following year,” Venegas said. “Lee is a great motivating factor of great empowerment, pushing you where you don’t think you can go. He’s a mentor to many.”
Pappas led the Jan. 5 mid-day workout with 10 of his Brethren members in attendance. After welcoming them, detailing some upcoming CrossFit competitions and expressing his gratitude for their commitment to his gym, Pappas read off the W.O.D. (lingo for Workout of the Day) and the group then took off for their warm-up jog, stretches and several 30-second intervals on the rowing machines. They will also do 20 ring dips and 20 handstand pushups as part of the hour-long workout. He tells them to focus on using proper technique before ramping up intensity.
“All they’ve got to do is get in here and we take care of the rest,” said Pappas for those who may be interested in testing out Brethren CrossFit. “They think they need to get in shape first before they come in here. But that’s not true at all.”
Brethren CrossFit, 675 Jarvis Drive, (408) 390-3890
Morgan Hill Athletic Club, 126 Cochrane Plaza, (408) 782-7060
Anytime Fitness, 795 Cochrane Road Suite 200, (408) 776-8980
24 Hour Fitness, 850 Tennant Station, (408) 779-5555
Morgan Hill CrossFit, 17680 Butterfield Boulevard, (408) 779-2835
Centennial Recreation Center, 171 W. Edmundson Avenue, (408) 782-2128
Gold’s Gym, 685 Jarvis Drive Side, (408) 776-1617
The Fitness Formula, 17400 Monterey Street Suite 2B, (408)776-9155
Yoga spots
Bikram Yoga, 775 Cochrane Road, Suite 160, (408)782-5800
Dailey Method, 16315 Monterey Road, Suite 100, (408) 782-6400
Pilates-Body Lab Studio, 17660 Monterey Road, Suite E, (408) 230-6471
“All they’ve got to do is get in here and we take care of the rest. They think they need to get in shape first before they come in here. But that’s not true at all.”
