Member of the Month - Niv
Tell us about yourself!
My name is Niv. I immigrated to Canada with my wife and our dog in 2013 and lived in Toronto until moving to Hamilton in 2017. In 2014, my daughter was born, and 4 years later, my son joined the family. I'm a photographer, and according to Crossfit.com, after the last Open, I was the 137,972nd fittest man on earth ;)
What got you into CrossFit?
My daughter started jumping rope three years ago, and I joined her. Initially, I jumped just for fun; later on, I jumped when she was at school as a workout. I saw on YouTube that rope jumping and kettlebells are an excellent combo to train at home, so I bought 2
kettlebells, and after a few months, I felt that I needed more, and that is how I got into CrossFit. Ever since I can remember, I've been into sports, but for me, it has always had to be fun and playful. Over the years, I biked, climbed, kayaked, played beach volleyball, and snowboarded, and "regular" gyms always felt boring, so I never went into one. That is until I discovered CrossFit, which is like a playground for big kids.
What do you like about Alchemy?
The first thing is the community. The people are so great; everybody checks their egos at the door. Nobody cares how much you lift or how old you are, but they do care about you, celebrating your wins, and helping you when things get tough, and that is just a great feeling.
The second thing is, of course, the coaches. I've learned so much in the past two years. They are so generous with their knowledge, always have ideas about changing a workout to accommodate your goals, and the classes are fun.
What has been your proudest moment at Alchemy?
My first Alchemy Open. It was the first time in my life that I "competed" in this setting with all the community cheering everybody up.
Another great moment for me was two weeks ago when I cleaned 200lb for the first time.
What are your CrossFit goals for the future?
My CrossFit goals for the future are to keep improving my Olympic weightlifting in form and weight, do a bar muscle-up before my next birthday (I have a year), and, most importantly, keep doing it for the long run so my kids can have a healthy and active dad for as long as possible.
If you could design the perfect workout, what would it include?
15 minutes EMOM: Sandbag over the shoulder, Handstand walk, short run, two to three heavy cleans (last round, try one rep max clean), and one minute rest.
What's the biggest change you've seen in yourself since you started CrossFit?
I got stronger, and I've started to prioritize sleep and nutrition.
What's your favorite thing to do when you're not at the gym?
I love to hike or go to Christie Lake with my family, watch Harry Potter with my kids, and cook. I'm also a big photography book nerd.
What's your favorite local Hamilton food spot?
Artie's! For their tahini and white chocolate cookies and their sandwiches.