Why Scaling Isn’t “Taking the Easy Way Out” (It’s Taking the Smart One)
Let’s clear something up: scaling isn’t about doing less—it’s about doing what works.
In a CrossFit class, the workout is just the framework. The stimulus is the goal. Scaling is how we make sure your body gets exactly what it needs to get better—today, and long term.
Scaling = Progress, Not Regression
The fastest way to improve strength, conditioning, and skills is to train consistently. Smart scaling allows you to:
Move well before moving heavy
Build strength in the right positions before chasing PRs
Practice skills instead of avoiding workouts altogether
If you can train more often because you’re scaling appropriately, you’re already winning.
The Goal Is Longevity
We want you training next year… and the year after that… and the decade after that.
Not sidelined because you “pushed through” something your body wasn’t ready for.
Scaling helps reduce injury risk, protect joints, and keep intensity high without unnecessary wear and tear.
The Workout Should Feel Hard (The Right Kind of Hard)
A properly scaled workout should still challenge you, get your heart rate up, and leave you tired but not wrecked. If a workout ever turns into a survival situation, it’s probably not the intended stimulus. Scaling brings the workout back into the sweet spot.
Coaches Encourage Appropriate Scaling Because They Care
When a coach suggests a modification, it’s not a judgment—it’s good coaching.
We’re looking at your movement quality, your current strengths and skills, and your training history. We’re also looking at tomorrow’s workout because we want you ready for that, too.
Our job is to help you train today in a way that makes tomorrow better, not harder. Our coaches have spent many years learning how to get better at CrossFit. They know the journey. Use them!
Scaling Is How You Level Up.
Every RX athlete you admire? They scaled. A lot. And if they’re smart, they still do. Scaling is how you build capacity, improve technique, and earn heavier weights and harder skills. There’s no shortcut. Rather, smart steps forward.
A Friendly Word About the Leaderboard (and Our Egos 😄)
We love the leaderboard. Truly. It’s fun. It’s motivating. It gives us something to high-five about after class. But here’s the gentle truth: the leaderboard is a place to celebrate, not a measuring stick for your self-worth. Measuring your progress against someone else’s snapshot of today is a surefire way to frustrate yourself and prevent your own growth. We don’t want that!
Comparison Is a Sneaky Joy Thief
When we chase someone else’s score, weight, or time, a few things happen. We forget why we’re training. We start making choices based on ego instead of stimulus. We turn a great workout into a frustrating one. We are all doing life in different bodies. With different backgrounds. In different seasons of life. Comparing your work to someone else’s is a fast track to feeling behind, no matter how hard you worked. That feeling can kick rocks.
The Leaderboard Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story
The leaderboard can’t show a lot of things. That you moved better than last month. That you scaled smarter and felt great afterwards. That you trained through a busy, stressful week and still showed up. Progress doesn’t always look flashy, but it’s still progress. This is where we want to focus. What were YOUR wins today?! You will always find them if you look in the right places.
Celebrate Loudly, Compare Quietly (or Not at All)
Use the leaderboard to:
Cheer for others
Celebrate wins (yours and theirs)
Notice patterns in your own scores over time
Not to:
Chase weights you’re not ready for
Ignore good coaching advice
Let ego make decisions your body has to pay for later
Bored with a scaling option or feel like it isn’t helping? Chat with your class coach! Your scaling options should be varied and fun. We’re always willing to get creative, as everyone needs something a little different. Remember – progress happens whether you acknowledge it or not. We see it, and it’s why we continue to help and challenge you.
The biggest “win” isn’t the top of the board. It is training consistently, staying healthy, and getting stronger, fitter, and more confident over time. That’s the kind of progress that actually lasts. The bottom line is this; scaling isn’t giving up. It’s showing up for the long game. WE ARE HERE FOR THAT 💪