Local workout enthusiasts had reason to celebrate when CrossFit WcG moved from its old gym and officially opened its new facility to the public in downtown Washington in early February.

In 2014, CrossFit WcG, which stands for Weightlifting, Cardio, and Gymnastics, started out as a workout with friends in a garage. It wasn’t until May 2016 that the CrossFit WcG box (aka gym) opened its doors as a business in Port Colden. Ever since then, CrossFit WcG has grown quickly in a short amount of time, starting with nine people. Today, the business has close to 100 members.

Because of this quick growth, Bill Colavito, the owner of CrossFit WcG, decided to buy a larger space to accommodate for the number of members.

Besides growth, there was another reason for why Colavito’s business changed locations.

“It’s a two-part answer. The second part is that I always wanted to be right in the center of downtown and right in the center of the community, and this is the perfect fit,” Colavito said.

CrossFit WcG’s head coach, Michael Dolobach, explained what CrossFit is and what it involves.

“CrossFit is a workout environment where it’s constantly varied functional movements, such as deadlifts and squatting. It hits all the body parts, always triggering different aspects of the body. It just makes everybody stronger, and it’s a great workout,” Dolobach said.

Another coach, Scott Cooper, gave some insight into how CrossFit is different than other sports.

“CrossFit is not a sport. It prepares you for all sports. It’s a general physical preparedness that will allow you to excel in any sport, and it is a baseline to be ready for anything,” Cooper said.

Even though CrossFit is a workout, for some CrossFit WcG members, it’s more than that.

“To me, CrossFit is definitely a way to stay healthy. It’s a way to be moving, but it’s also a community and a family,” member Jessica Cahill said. “When I started here, I didn’t know a single person that did it, and everyone just embraced, encouraged, and pushed me to keep going.”

One aspect that makes CrossFit WcG stand out is the social community built around the workouts.

“In terms of community, we’re all working out together, inspiring everybody to give their best performance that they can,” Dolobach said. “It’s a controlled environment where people are cheering you on and everything. It’s not just you doing your workout. It’s a way to push yourself.”

Because of the welcoming environment and the friendly community that is fostered at CrossFit WcG, new members will not feel intimidated. Instead, they will feel like they’re a part of the CrossFit family.

“Whether you’re a teenager in high school or a grandmother of three, we welcome you with open arms,” coach Cara Cioni said. “You automatically have a place with us, and I think the culture here is really unique. We work hard, but we also play hard together.”