Arrowhead Athletics is committed to making world-class athletic tape (always made in USA) for customers around the world. Whether an Olympic team or a small gym just getting started, we believe that we don't sleep unless our athletes, trainers and coaches are happy with our products. Today, we are featuring an athletic community in West Roxbury, MA - just outside of Boston. Their gym and coaches are dedicated to the practice of crossfit, self-defense, and nutrition as ways to transform athletes, but there is more to this box than helping their community of members.
Learn more about Crossfit Boston Iron and Grit from Tina Ramos,one of its owners:
When did you found Crossfit Boston Iron and Grit?
In 2011 I applied for my affiliation but I didn't really know what it meant at the time. I wanted to start an inner city program for at risk youth. I never thought I would own my own "BOX" but here I am running my own business and the non-profit program for at risk youth [editors note - Tina didn't plug her programs - Boston Iron Kids program and beat the streets, but we will!].
Why did you open a gym? What motivated you?
I was motivated by the people who were involved with CrossFit. I liked the residual values that were being taught in the gym: hard work, be honest, high standards, win humbly, finish strong and the ever powerful courage of never giving up.
Current location, class hours, most popular class time?
West Roxbury, we provide classes all day long. Every hour is popular. Just depends on the week!
How did you discover crossfit?
I was introduced by my teacher in personal training school. After working in education I had gone back to get my certificate as a personal trainer.
What is unique about crossfit, compared to other training regimens you have done?
It's intensity and the community. Community is the number one aspect that drew me to CrossFit.
What might a class/session look like? How do you plan out the class time?
Every class is different because we keep our WODs varied but what doesn't change is the quality of our coaching. We emphasize form/technique first, consistency second and then intensity.
How would you describe the culture of your gym, its coaches and athletes?
Accepting and giving. Both the coaches and athletes are high quality people with hard work ethic. They believe in giving back and support our inner city youth initiative.
What's an ideal recovery day for you?
A three-mile run and tons of mobility.
What is something you’ve learned about owning a gym that you think would surprise people?
It's not glamorous! Most people fall in love with CrossFit and think owning a gym would be so great. No one tells them that they will spend most of the time cleaning and doing things like accounting. If I think the gym is dirty I can't sleep at night. Perhaps it's just me but I like the members to walk in and have this be a great experience every time.
Favorite conditioning technique
Turkish Get Ups [editor's note - this is my favorite movement as a parent of young children too - 24/7 kettlebell access!].
Favorite Arrowhead Tape
I like Thin-Flex black and red Lite-Guard for my thumbs and 1" Thin-Flex for taping my entire hand to prevent rips. This tape is awesome!
How do you use Arrowhead Athletic Tape?
I mostly use it for my thumbs on the Olympic Lifts but for pull up days I go all out with the technique Arrowhead taught me.
Favorite music for training?
Country or 80s. I grew up in Nebraska in the 80s!
Outside of crossfit, what are you most passionate about?
My inner city youth program. It's very important to me that we use our skills and influence to help our youth all have the opportunity to go to college. I grew up poor and around some bad influences. My coach was the first to push me to train and to think about college. This will always be a person I remember. To this day I don't think I would have made it to graduate school without this motivation. I learned so many valuable life lessons in those hard training sessions. I also know that it kept me out of trouble!
