The CULTure of CrossFit
December 7, 2025
The CULTure of CrossFit
Is CrossFit a cult? Probably not…but that doesn’t mean that we don’t look pretty damned different to those on the outside looking in...
We speak our own language using acronyms like AMRAP and EMOM…
We choose to tackle the hardest part of our day before the sun is up…
We embrace discomfort, struggle and pain in a world of convenience…
And we keep trying to convince our friends to “just come try one class.”
I get why people say that CrossFit is a cult. From the outside, we probably do look a little intense. But here’s the truth:
Calling CrossFit a cult was always the easiest way for the outside world to dismiss something they don’t understand — something that challenged the old, broken model of fitness and health.
Because 20+ years ago, CrossFit was saying things most people weren’t ready to hear:
-That chronic disease doesn’t have to be your destiny.
-That your gym should feel like a community, not a warehouse full of treadmills.
-That strength, work capacity, mobility, and nutrition are medicine.
-That how you age is a choice.
And when you challenge the status quo, people reach for labels.
But here inside CrossFit gyms we’re fighting the real enemies: Weakness. Disease. Decline. Isolation. Helplessness. The belief that aging means losing your strength and vitality.
That doesn’t make us a cult.
That makes us essential.
Why This “Cult” Works
In a world where healthcare waits until you’re sick…
Where sitting and standing becomes a struggle decades before it should…
Where strength and muscle are treated like indulgences instead of the necessities they are…
Where loneliness is now considered a health risk equal to smoking…
Choosing a place like CrossFit NorthGate is one of the most rational decisions you can make.
Because here’s what really happens inside our walls:
-You build the strength to carry your own groceries, move furniture, chase your kids or grandkids, ski, hike, and play for the rest of your life.
-You surround yourself with people who genuinely want to see you succeed — people who cheer for your first pull-up and your deadlift PR with the same intensity.
-You learn how to eat in a way that fuels you instead of drains you.
-You build confidence you didn’t know was missing.
-Your body becomes more capable, not less, with each passing year.
And this isn’t based on blind faith — it’s based on results you can see, feel, and measure:
-Better biomarkers
-Increased strength
-Better conditioning
-Improved mental health
-A community that actually supports you
If that’s a cult, then honestly?
I’m proud to be part of it.
The Invitation
Now, let me be clear: We’re not trying to convert you, take your stuff, or make you move into a communal compound in the hills of Sonoma County.
You can keep your house. Keep your job. Keep your friends (Although we’ll probably try to recruit them too.)
We’re not looking for followers — we’re looking for people who are tired of settling for “good enough” when it comes to their health.
As we say: everyone can do CrossFit, but CrossFit isn’t for everyone.
We want those who are on a quest to be the best version of themselves. Those who are willing to lead by example and set the standard for everyone in their circle of influence. Those who are humble enough to accept where they are, and fierce enough to fight to get where they want to go.
If you’re curious, come visit us.
Try a class.
Meet the coaches.
Talk to our members.
Watch how people treat each other here.
See if what you feel matches what you’ve heard.
And if you decide it’s not for you? No hard feelings. We’ll still be here fighting the good fight against decrepitude.
But if you do walk through our doors and decide to stay?
Well…Welcome to our “cult.”
We’ve been expecting you.
Coach Parker
CrossFit NorthGate
