February 28, 2015
By Catrina Vargo
Louisa, KY — After the snow shut down last week’s meeting, the Louisa Rotary Club was back on schedule, as they met Thursday, Feb. 26 at the First Baptist Church. After the invocation, Pledge of Allegiance, and the Four-Way Test were said, President Greg Kiser opened the meeting.
Rotarians celebrating birthdays in February were Ellen Taylor, Debbie Handshaw, and Greg Kiser. The group expressed their condolences to Steve Montgomery, on the passing of his mother.
Other announcements included the Rotary board meeting scheduled for April 2, and the Farmer’s Appreciation Dinner, Thursday March 5, at 6:00 pm at the Lawrence County Extension Office.
New member, Chuck Price, was as inducted into the Louisa Rotary Club, receiving his badge.
The floor was then turned over to special guest speakers, CrossFit trainers, Monica and Paul Hickey, and Bill Hall. Monica Hickey, became involved with CrossFit while living in Huntington, WV. When she moved back to Louisa she said she wanted to keep up the lifestyle that enabled her to lose over 100 lbs, and become physically fit.
She started thinking about how she could start a CrossFit program in Louisa. “We started doing workouts in the city park with just a few people. The next week, we had 13 people, five were from Paintsville.”
The program has continued to grow, and now offers three classes; 5:30, 6:30, and 7:30 pm, five days a week, with daytime classes on Saturday. “We are passionate about what we offer” said Hickey.
CrossFit is a core strengthening program that focuses on overall fitness by using ‘constantly varying functional movements at relatively high intensity.’ Hickey explained this definition by saying the program doesn’t use machines. “You use your body” she said.
CrossFit was designed by coach, Greg Glassman, who over several decades, developed a program regimen that scientifically optimizes fitness. Hickey said the other reason the program is so successful is that it stresses the importance of community.
“Everyone there encourages each other.” There are two rules in CrossFit: (1) You are required to know everyone’s name, (2) “Your WOD is my WOD,” which stands for workout of the day. It means if you get done with your workout, you stay until the others in your class get finished, cheering them on.
Monica, 36, who used to weigh 265 lbs, said “if your goal is to be fit, we have the best workout.” Members will also learn about nutrition.
Trainer Bill Hall, 59, was a firefighter for 10 years, until he got to where he couldn’t physically do it any longer. “On one call I almost got myself and someone else hurt.” Hall said he knew he had to do something about his health. “I thought I had waited too long, I was too old” he said, but decided to try the program after using every excuse in the world not to. He began to see results quickly and says now
“CrossFit has changed my life.”
Hall said his wife’s health was even worse. She had fallen out of an office chair and couldn’t get up. She laid in the floor until someone found her. Hall said she was making plans to die, financial arrangements and such. “I knew she wasn’t going to be around much longer,” he said. She decided to try CrossFit with the goal of just being able to get up off the floor. Hall said she has since lost nearly 100 pounds, has run a 5-K, and can dead lift 230 lbs.
Hall said even their grandkids have stated to embrace a healthy lifestyle. “We all have a better quality of life and do what we want to do.”
Paul Hickey demonstrated an exercise called a ‘burpee,’ which is one of the most difficult moves in the program, but also one of the most effective. He explained that modifications can be made on any of the exercises to fit people with with nearly any physical limitation or problem. Monica said, “We are all about results and helping you.”
CrossFit membership is $100 per month, and there is a free one week beginners class. The classes are held in downtown Louisa, across from Giovanni’s. If you are interested or would like more information, contact Monica Hickey on Facebook.
Kiser announced there will be no board meeting in March. The meeting was then adjourned.
