CrossFit Monroe

No treadmills, no fancy machines, no salesmen. I mean «personal trainers.» Basically, the way a fitness facility should be.
If you’re reading this, I’m sure you have a general idea of what Crossfit is at this point. So we don’t need to go in to that detail. I’m sure you’ve also read all the horror stories online or from some know-it-all’s blog about how terrible Crossfit is and how it promotes using poor form to get maximum reps and the fastest time. Turns out, Crossfit gyms can vary widely, and every gym (or Box, in Crossfit lingo) and all are run differently.
This is the only of the half dozen or so Crossfit gyms I’ve been to that runs in an open-​gym format. Most have a specific start time where everyone comes in, warms up, and starts the workout (or WOD, in that same Crossfit lingo) at the same time. The problem I’ve always had with that is that 1. I can’t always make it exactly at that start time, and end up missing out, and 2. It spreads the trainers (or coaches… lingo) thin, making it harder for them to keep you doing things the correct way (which can be tough once you start getting fatigued). Having an attentive coach there to encourage you and work on your form in real time is priceless.
The people who workout here are a great bunch, and have been welcome of me, despite my social awkwardness, and every other person whom I’ve seen come in, regardless of age, body type, or anything else. Unlike other gyms, both Crossfit and traditional, that I’ve been to, I’ve not witnessed nor experienced any negativity or judgment amongst the crowd. I truly positive environment all around.
The facility is top notch, and definitely the best Crossfit facility I’ve worked out in.

I am a Crossfitter down in Los Angeles, but I dropped into Crossfit Monroe while visiting my parents and I will be back! First off, the owners communicated with me immediately when I called in to see if I could call this box ‘home’ for the week I’m visiting family. This gym has a unique open-​schedule that allows clients to do the WOD at the time they arrive at their pace. It’s not a scheduled WOD time, but the coaches are still very attentive and very much coaching! The facility is well-​equipped and clean. The programming is on point.

Hours open are weird. Forced to join a different gym because Crossfit Monroe is not open during the day and the schedule is inconsistent. I can’t give it 3 stars because an average business would be open.