Owners: Matt Chan, Cherie Chan, and Joylyn Godinez

What is CrossFit? CrossFit is a worldwide strength and conditioning fitness program designed for all ages. Whether you’re a beginner or a professional athlete, the CrossFit program is designed with universal scalability, making this the ideal exercise program for anyone, regardless of age or experience!  CrossFit is used to train Firefighters, Law Enforcement, Miltary, professional athletes, and every day athletes like most of us.

What makes CrossFit Verve unique? While there are a multitude of new CrossFit affiliates in Colorado, CrossFit Verve has been around for over four years, progressively evolving and refining our processes and training.  Our main focus is providing the highest level of professional training to each and every one of our athletes.   We cultivate a fit community that transforms lives by providing elite functional fitness, so that people may live healthier and happier.  We have an attention to detail for every athlete regardless of age and skill level.

Co-Owner, Matt Chan placed second in the 2012 Reebok CrossFit World Games, seen on ESPN. Denver Bronco running back Knowshon Moreno trained at CrossFit Verve before the 2011-2012 NFL season.  Lee Zink of the Denver Outlaws who was named as the 2012 National Lacrosse League Defensive Player of the Year trains at CrossFit Verve.  CrossFit Verve also regularly hosts Swim WODs and Adult Gymnastics field trips.

Matt Chan, World's Second Fittest Man
Courtesy: CrossFit Journal

What types of classes are offered at CrossFit Verve? CrossFit Verve offers several different classes daily, including:

WOD (Workout Of the Day):  Constantly varied functional movements done at high intensity. The WODs are scaled and modified to each athlete’s level and performed at the highest intensity that the individual can sustain with good form and proper technique. All functional movements to include 3 modalities; mono structural, gymnastics and weight-lifting. This is our GPP program (General Physical Preparedness) designed to increase your work capacity across broad time and modal domains while improving CrossFit’s 10 general skills. Cardio-respiratory endurance, Strength, Stamina, Flexibility, Power, Speed, Agility, Balance, Coordination, and Accuracy.

CrossFit Skillz:  Think you have to “get in shape” before starting CrossFit? Nothing could be further from the truth. If after you’ve completed foundations or elements, and you feel like you need to continue building a base of conditioning, strength and technique, before adding heavy loads and volume, this class is for you. All of the components of the CrossFit WOD are included in this class, with a pace and focus that caters to the rookie CrossFitter.

Olympic lifting:  For beginners and experienced athletes alike, this class provides technique driven skills and drills for those looking to improve these explosive lifts of Clean and Jerk and the Snatch.

Hot Dogs and Cupcakes:  Used in conjunction with the WOD to develop athleticism by focusing on barbell movements executed in both maximal efforts and dynamic efforts. Also spend time developing advanced gymnastics skills and running technique at various distances.

CrossFit Moms:  This program is dedicated exclusively to pre-natal and post-natal women of all ages and fitness abilities.  Bring your baby, up to the age of three.  This is a flexible and like-minded environment for busy moms with a unique opportunity to have your baby with you at the gym while they train. Each class includes a warm-up, a skills training component, and an individually scaled workout with a focus on conditioning and strength.

What advice do you have for first time CrossFitters?

Patience, commitment, and the ability to have fun.  CrossFit is for everyone and every ability.  We all start at various levels of fitness.  Most people think they need to be in shape before they come in for a workout, nonsense!  You can find yourself in a class next to a 72-year-old athlete on one side and a 16-year-old on the other.  Try not to compare your workout to others, you are there for your own goals.  Mechanics, Consistency, then Intensity. In that order.

What does the CrossFit Verve community love to do in Denver when they're not in the box? We love fostering a community that loves getting out and using their fitness together, in addition to supporting each other.  These people are up for adventures: zoo outings, potlucks, hikes, skiing/snowboarding, hiking fourteeners, mountain biking, or just our local coffee shops in walking distance (the Hutch, Crema.)

What makes your trainers tick?

Where to start...

Matt Chan, the second fittest man in the world, has an obsession with carrot cake.  He loves carrot cake and every Saturday night ritually will enjoy a slice or four.

Luke Palmisano often has thoughts of grandeur of how he helped Eminem rise to stardom with his songs.

Eric Clancy is from Boston, but we don't hold that against him.

More of our trainers’ dogs have twitter accounts than our actual trainers.

Joylyn and Mas Godinez traveled across New Zealand in a camper van for two weeks for their honeymoon.

Chris Slaughter regularly enjoys jumping out of properly functioning planes.

Chris Zienkievicz coaches a national level youth hockey team.

Courtney Shephard has an unhealthy obsession with custom shoes, whether Chuck Taylors or Reeboks.

Emmalee Moore was a competitive gymnast for most of her life before becoming a well-respected firefighter.

Tour CrossFit Verve with Matt Chan

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6kHUmdyUyI?rel=0&w=640&h=360]

Book a WOD with CrossFit Verve in Denver here!