Ina joined our fit family in March 2020. She can be found consistently crushing WODs in the noon classes. Ina completed her first CrossFit Open just a year after joining BeachSide CrossFit and she has been making constant progress ever since. Can’t wait to see some new PR’s the rest of the year has in store for Ina. Her dedication to her fitness is definitely showing and is a fantastic example of commitment.
Tell us about yourself:
Although born and raised in New York, I am a California girl at heart. I have lived in Ventura for a little over 10 years, and I’m happy to call it home. I am a wife and mother of two kids. I love watching movies, traveling, playing tennis, and most recently, CrossFit! I only started my fitness journey just a few years ago, and I only regret not starting sooner. I now love working out to get faster, stronger, and better in everything I try.
What do you do for a job?
I used to work as a physician assistant (PA). Currently I am a stay-at-home mom.
Tell us something people might not know about you:
I’m a huge nerd! A classic one through high school and college: studious, introverted, shy, socially awkward, unstylish. I’ve come a long way since then; it’s not so obvious anymore, but I’m still a nerd at heart.
What brought you to CrossFit in the first place?
I used to do more classic bodybuilder type workouts, but after a while I wanted something more challenging. CrossFit seemed to be exactly what I needed. It took the basic skills that I already had to the next level, and gave them a place to be more useful. Fitness for me became less about changing the shape of my body and more about function and performance.
What was your first impression? How has that changed?
My only exposure to CrossFit had been seeing competitions on TV. These athletes looked almost superhuman, and I couldn’t even fathom doing any of those athletic feats myself. Although I was intimidated to try CrossFit, I’m really glad I did. Now I’ve learned that CrossFit can be tailored to anyone’s fitness level. You can start at any level and improve every time you come in to train.
What was your first “bright spot”?
I was really proud of my first rope climb. Getting to the top was a little scary but fun too!
What are you working on now?
One of my main goals is getting my first strict pull-up and kipping pull-up. I think hitting that goal would help to unlock all the movements on the rig, like toes-to-bar and muscle-ups. Also, I’m always looking to improve my overhead strength, especially for the snatch and handstand movements. And I’m also trying to dial in my technique on the Olympic lifts. I could go on, but those would be my top 3 at the moment.
What’s your favorite Beachside CrossFit memory?
Participating in my first competition, the 2021 CrossFit Open. It was a good way to test myself both physically and mentally. On Day 1, I was nervous, excited and eager to get going. When the first event was over, I had a great sense of accomplishment and pride in both myself and in everyone who participated that day. Being part of the Open was fun and something I won’t soon forget.
