TILT II’s September Member of the Month … Daphna!

“Salsa Verde”
AMRAP 15:
5 Ring Muscle-ups
10 Power Cleans (135/95#)
25 Medball Squats (20/14#)

Box Brief
We have a few changes for our upcoming weekend schedule.
Saturday: Normal classes
Sunday: Open Gym 9am-12pm (No Yoga)
Monday: 7am and 9am classes

Congratulations Daphna on being CrossFit TILT II’s first Member of the Month!
Here’s a little bit about Daphna:

1. How long have you been doing CrossFit? I’ve been doing CrossFit for 2 1/2 years – I started in March 2014. It’s been one of the best decisions I ever made.

2. How did you get started? Here’s the semi-condensed version: I was pretty sedentary in college and right after, although for a few years in my dissolute 20s I ran 5Ks and 10Ks. In my 30s, after kids, I still ran a little but mostly did yoga.

About 5 years ago, a good friend started doing some crazy thing called CrossFit in an old warehouse, and I thought to myself, “Good way to throw out your back.” Then, in 2013, two things happened. I was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 40, and once I recovered, the yoga studio I had been going to in Sudbury (where I met Fran Cote!) closed.

At this stage, I was still flexible but my cardio was terrible – I was winded after 10 minutes of tennis. I tried surfing and could barely hoist myself up on my board. I ran a little but got shin splints. I missed the full-body movement of yoga and did videos at home, but it wasn’t the same. For a year, I mostly just walked my dog and moped, but when our high school sitter mentioned she was trying CrossFit, I got curious.

I still retained some of my original bias (“I can’t lift a barbell,” I thought). But on a whim I tried the intro classes anyway. I was immediately hooked, despite peeing my pants while jumping rope and being unable to walk down stairs after doing squats.

I found a lot of similarities between CrossFit movements and yoga, and the upper-body exercises were really helpful to recover my range of motion and strength a year post-surgery.

I also realized that barbells are badass, and I can lift them.

3. If there was a “Daphna” workout, what would it consist of? I’ll give you two..
Door #1:
1000 m row
40 wallballs
25 cleans (135/95)
20 pullups
25 cleans
40 wallballs
1000 m row.
Cashout: 50 burpees. Then mimosas.

Door #2: Karen (150 Wall Balls) and every time you drop the wall ball, do 1 round of Cindy (5 pullups, 10 pushups, 15 air squats)

Here’s what it wouldn’t have: Dubs.

4. What does a day in the life of Daphna look like outside of being a rockstar crossfitter? After getting my kids to school, I go to the 9:30. I usually stay for at least a half hour afterward to do extra work, socialize, and/or practice my dubs (see above).

I work from home as a writer and editor, so that takes up most of the rest of the day until my kids get home from school. Then I’m on homework/snack/screen management duty.

I love to be outdoors – on the weekends I’m gardening or chopping wood or watching soccer. At night, if I’m not working, I play my acoustic guitar – CrossFit has helped me with that, too: Strong grip = good bar chords.

5. You can go to any concert of any artist (dead or alive) which one would you go to? No question, U2. I really think that I need to be pulled onstage to dance with Bono or play a few chords with the Edge. I’ve seen U2 twice; I sat in the nosebleeds, but it’s still worth it.

6. If you could be any animal in the world, what animal would you be and why? Oh, that’s easy. I would be a bald eagle on an island in Maine. I would love to fly. It would be amazing to be fast and graceful at the same time and I’d enjoy traveling long distances over the water. As a bonus, my eyesight would be greatly improved.

7. Any last thoughts on being CrossFit TILT II’s first Member of the Month? Yes, I have a lot of thoughts! I am so thankful to be included in this community. CrossFit has changed my life – not just physically, but also mentally and emotionally. I’m naturally a positive person but things can get dark sometimes.  CrossFit always brings me back to who I really am – someone who likes to work hard, learn new things, and meet people. There’s a depth to everyone I’ve met at CFU/Tilt – and I love the diversity of ages, careers, etc. This community is such a great antidote to the “mainstream” culture. Being with people you care about – who care about you as well – is a huge gift and I feel fortunate to be part of it.