James Fitzgerald takes a look at OPEX athletes getting ready for the OPEN and the CrossFit season. Mainly looking at breathing patterns in different types of training.

personal-wide best first as a code of conduct. The reason why is because once that is achieved, it will be very easy to determine why you’re doing what you’re doing, because it’s on a base of authentic support.” – James FitzGerald

Feeling congested but still, want to train? It’s hard to kick the habit of exercise when sickness knocks on the front door. Many would rather power through illness and keep going rather than submit to illness and disease. Regardless of the symptoms, be it coughing or nausea, people still want to continue training despite how their body feels. In fact, exercise has often been perceived to be the best recovery tool from illness.

There are many functional movements in the fitness world, but many are not as flashy and fun as the muscle up. For most people, pull ups and ring dips are hard enough, so having to combine the pushing and pulling mechanics with the instability of the rings makes the muscle up the “holy grail” of movements. It is rare to see someone get a muscle up on their first try, or even their second or third. This is a movement that requires diligent practice, determination and lots of patience!

At OPEX Fitness our clients receive individualized programs that outline a series of exercises that vary in terms of sets, reps, rest periods and tempo. The unique variations depend on the fitness goals of the individual.

Tennil’s training has takes a slight shift from the normal day to day as we get closer to the CrossFit Regionals. She is taking part in ‘Regionals Simulations’ with her fellow OPEX Sponsored Athletes. As the name would suggest these events are meant to help Tennil prepare for the chaos of that important weekend.

If you're a coach, here are a few things you need to hear. With over 20 years of experience, James Fitzgerald knows a thing or two when it comes to being a successful coach as well as leading successful coaches.

The proliferation of fitness to the masses came at the same time as the advent of the internet.

Ian Boughey working on some eccentric only pullups with a tempo to work on his regular pullups.  Ian has been working hard in the process and “training to get better at testing”

“Your beliefs become your thoughts, your thoughts become your words, your words become your actions, your actions become your habits, your habits become your values, your values become your destiny.” 



OPEX HQ Coach Matt Springer provides clear direction on how to structure your warm-up for squatting

The training plan last year emphasized Dustin being able express his fitness potential for 5 weeks in the 2016 Opens.

Over-training, moving house, or finishing up exams: there are a bunch of stressful life events that typically bring on a bout of sickness. But what if they don’t? What if you never get sick?

One walk around the airport in Chicago on my way home to Labrador; or one hour spent at Walmart searching for a snow sled for my kiddos – and the assumption you’d make for most people for this answer is…not a lot.

After being injured during the 2017 CrossFit Regionals, the toughest thing for Rachel Campbell has been getting her mind back in the game…

Within the realm of CrossFit, ‘the community’ is most often the #1 response of every day folks who report on what keeps them coming back to their box, day in and day out.

Tennil will be tackling CrossFit Open workout 18.4 in her morning session today. Be sure to follow OPEX Athlete on Instagram to see her crush this workout.

Tennil Reed is currently preparing to get ready for the CrossFit Regionals. In todays training see has some rope climbs and thrusters in the Am and some intervals of rowing, double unders and running.

Remote Coaching Client David Bozak completing a new battery squat test created by Head Coach Matt Springer.  It mirrors Open workout 16.2.  If you combine this training session with David’s essence, it’s an excellent example of someone on the far end of the Low NME.  Look at his squat prescription, then look at his “max” of 275lbs at the end of the squat ladder.  What coaches can take away from this is an example of someone who does well with high volume at classically high intensity.