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Meet Anna Smith of CrossFit Banshee in Aurora

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Smith.

Anna, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Back in 2009, I was greatly out of shape and feeling very uncomfortable about it, both physically and mentally. I would stay up at night scheming ways to get into a regular exercise routine, but the next day would come and go without any action or follow through. Finally, I decided to search for a gym because I could not do it on my own in a big gym, for as many times as I would show up there, I just couldn’t get it to stick.

I searched the internet for a kickboxing gym but found CrossFit. The tag line, “Best shape of your life,” would not stop nagging me. I debated going with the belief I would be stepping into a gym with a whole bunch of meatheads that didn’t understand where I was coming from. The first day I stepped through the doors of that gym, I realized I would be very comfortable with CrossFit. I met friendly people excited for me every step of my progress. I felt like I could work hard and sweat without getting funny looks.

Fast forward a little more than a year and about 80 pounds lost, the owner of the CrossFIt gym asked if I would get certified and coach for him. I was thrilled to be considered. Simultaneously every person who witnessed my changes asked me how I did it, I was constantly talking about nutrition. It wasn’t long before I got certified as a Nutrition Coach as well. I coached at two gyms and then my partner and I opened our own CrossFit Gym in 2013, We have been in the same location for nearly seven years now!

Has it been a smooth road?
The path has been anything but smooth. I think we were very naive walking into the business. We believed great coaching, community, and caring would be enough to get us going as a business. We have learned none of those things matter within our four walls of the business if no one knows that we are there to begin with.

We have had to learn a lot about marketing and sales, which have felt counter-intuitive to what we would have done naturally. We needed to learn how to talk about our story that is also relevant to what people want from their health and fitness routines. There have been plenty of other learning points along the way that have helped us shore up our processes within the gym to make the members experience better, but somehow those seem more intuitive. Our focus is on how we can make the gym the best hour of someone’s day.

We’d love to hear more about your work.
We help people find the part of themselves that makes them proud and excited! We have a lot of people finding us, just the way I was, uncomfortable in their bodies. Uncomfortable with how they look, in discomfort with aches and pains, or inabilities to do what they once were able to.

Often we are asked how we differ from the many other CrossFit gyms in the Denver area. We have two areas of focus; helping people with all abilities feel welcome and safe to start something new or different for them. Also, helping the members create a lifestyle around longevity. Longevity, not only as a member but finding what healthy habits work for them as they change, their lives change, as they age so they can continue to practice and feel able throughout their whole lives.

A lot of what is seen about CrossFit has been labeled as “hardcore” or “intimidating”, but at CrossFit Banshee, we are excited to work with the average person who is trying to figure out how to find balance in their lives and the demands of everyday life. Not to say we don’t have some amazing athleticism in the gym, but that we all coaches, owners, and members alike are just like everyone else.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
There are so many health-conscious people in the Denver area! That is amazing, it leaves us with so many options to help create and support healthy lifestyles. Great restaurants with food options for all, Endless outdoor events to play and test fitness. Trails, open spaces, recreation areas aren’t hard to come by. It is great!

Pricing:

  • $225 Fundamentals Course to get started with CrossFit
  • $240 a month for Nutrition Coaching and Group CrossFit Classes
  • $150 a month for Group CrossFit Classes
  • $90 a month for Nutrition Coaching

Contact Info:

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