CrossFit Seymour was established in the summer of 2012 in a building on Chestnut Street in downtown Seymour with around 20 regular members.
As more people found out about the business and membership grew close to 100, co-owners Sam and Amy Steffey realized they needed to look for a building with more space.
Earlier this year, they found the right fit in the former Bullard’s Industrial Food Service building at 209 E. Second St.
The business went from around 1,600 square feet to more than 10,000.
“(CrossFit) is just something that people really like,” Sam Steffey said. “We think it’s a good thing for people to do, and it’s a good way to get healthy, people have a lot of fun and it builds a nice community. We ended up needing more space because the community grew.”
The matted area for workouts that covered the floor in the previous building is doubled in the new location. There also is more space for more people to work out at once, and the height of the ceilings allowed for the addition of a rope climb.
Head trainer RaeAnn Mellencamp said members appreciate the extra space.
“Our new space has made a difference in our members’ lives just by allowing them to move more freely,” she said. “Some of our guys are 6-foot-5 and feel trapped when in a small space. Now, they can perform Olympic lifts without the worry of being right on top of someone. We all have our own space, and we take pride and security in that.”
The new building also has allowed the business to run concurrent classes in the evening. Regular CrossFit classes are offered, along with light classes that may be less intimidating.
Class times are now available as early as 5:30 a.m. and as late as 6:15 p.m.
“To be more of a center of wellness for the city is really what we’re looking for,” Sam Steffey said. “A place where people can come, it’s a very accepting place and takes everybody no matter what your skill level is and what you’re interested in.”
Most classes last an hour, and they begin with a coach-led warmup before going into a workout, which is different every day and combines strength, flexibility, speed and stamina.
“We try to vary what we do and the approach that we take so that you don’t become used to the same thing all the time, so your body is constantly forced to adapt to new ways of working out,” Steffey said.
Yoga also has been introduced at the facility. Classes are conducted in a room separate from the workout area.
The larger space also has led to more classes being offered for kids ages 7 to 16. Mellencamp said they can be among their peers learning age-appropriate skills and the importance of healthy nutrition.
“There’s a big need for healthy activities in a healthy environment for kids to be able to come to and learn the right things,” Steffey said. “We really see that as an area that we can focus on in terms of getting to Seymour’s youth and teaching them good habits while they’re young so that they can continue those through their whole life.”
A variety of products, including protein powder, protein bars, amino acids, healthy performance and recovery drinks, hydration supplements, apparel and kinesiology tape, also are available for purchase. Mellencamp said the supplements have clean ingredients, and there also are products specifically designed for women.
“We have it all and know how to use them,” Mellencamp said of the supplements. “We know how it tastes, and we know the best time to fuel your body to get better results.”
Yoga and kids classes were suggestions by members, Steffey said. The owners also hope to start a boxing program and different martial arts classes, and they have talked about offering batting cages and golf simulators so people can work on baseball and golf year-round.
Steffey said he encourages people to give CrossFit a try. A light class is available for $6 or you can pay $130 for a month of unlimited classes. For students, military, police and fire personnel and first responders, it’s $115 per month. There are no contracts to sign.
“Hopefully, as we get more popular, and now that we have the ball rolling, we will pick up some speed here and we can really get the word out that this is here, it’s available in town and it’s something that everybody can do regardless of your age or your skill level or your fitness level at the time,” he said. “It’s something that everybody can do. We have a class that would fit most everyone.”
Mellencamp, who is one of six trainers at CrossFit Seymour, offered encouragement to people considering CrossFit: “Go for it. You only live once.”
“We are teaching people how to improve their quality of life through functional movement, clean eating and building self-confidence,” she said. “People in our community are doing things they never thought possible. Whether it be running their first 5K, hitting a new (personal record) or just walking through our door for the first time, they’re doing it.”
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Business: CrossFit Seymour
Location: 209 E. Second St., Seymour
Pricing: Unlimited (free access to light class and barbell club), $130 per month (it’s $115 for students, police, fire and military personnel and first responders); three days per week, $115; two days per week, $85; light class, $6; Iron Kids (ages 7 to 10), $5; drop-in and barbell club, $20
Class schedule: 5:30 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 3:30 p.m., 5:15 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays (including a light class at 6:15 p.m. Mondays); 11:45 a.m., 4 p.m. (Iron Kids), 5:15 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. Wednesdays (including a light class at 6:15 p.m.); 5:30 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 4 p.m. (Iron Kids), 5:15 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. (light class) Fridays; and 8 a.m. (light class), 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. (barbell club) Saturdays
Online: facebook.com/CrossFitSeymour
Information: Sam Steffey at 317-460-2380 or RaeAnn Mellencamp at 812-569-0261
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