“Autumn is a joy to coach. She takes cues and immediately applies them to her training. Consequently, the quality of her movement is always on the rise. It’s great to be part of her fitness journey.” Coach Nic 

Name: Autumn Poole

How long have you been doing CrossFit? 11 Months

How long at CrossFit Rx?  11months (1 year anniversary will be March 25th!)

What is the best advice that you have received in CrossFit?
I have received a ton of great technical advice, but I feel like the most impactful thing for me has been the encouragement from the coaches and other members. I still have to scale a lot of movements and sometimes I get bummed about not being able to do everything, but everyone is super encouraging and helps me remember that it’s my own journey. And that the smallest progress is still progress

Any advice of your own to offer up to someone new or thinking about joining?
Have patience with yourself

What is your favorite movement?
Movements that require you to lift/move your own bodyweight.

What is your favorite kind of music to workout to in the gym?
Anything I can dance to!

Any favorite artist, songs or genres that you would like to hear more of?
I feel like the coaches have a good variety, so keep doing what you’re doing!

Tell us something that we would be surprised to know about you!
I eat the same thing every day

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Family, work, outside of the gym hobbies, favorite food, move etc. Help us get to know a little about you outside the gym!
I was born and raised in Louisiana, which is where the rest of my family lives! I graduated from LSU and moved to Atlanta in the summer of 2019 to work as a business consultant for Ernst & Young. Atlanta is also where I met Aaron, my husband as of this October. Outside of the gym and work, I enjoy spending time with friends, drawing, experimenting with the espresso machine and being outside.

“The one thing (among many) i love about Saed is her eagerness to learn and her ability to be coached. She is so open to cues and any tip to help her move more efficiently and safely. Saed also has one of the most amazing personalities and attitudes in the gym, always sharing a smile and friendly convos with everyone and that’s such a breath of fresh air.” – Coach Chris

Name: Saed Reyes

How long have you been doing CrossFit? Since July 2020

How long at CrossFit Rx?  My whole CrossFit life (~1.5 years)

What is the best advice that you have received in CrossFit?
Trust the process – the modifications do help build the strength you need to work up to the more complex movements. Also, you’re stronger than you think so don’t be afraid to push yourself sometimes.
Any advice of your own to offer up to someone new or thinking about joining?
As intimidating as it may seem, just join and show up as much as you can. I was SO nervous/skeptical at first, too, but you’ll start to see improvements week-over-week and there’s nothing more motivating than that! It also offers a sense of community that you didn’t even know you needed.

What is your favorite movement?
Toes To Bar! Although I’m still working on connecting the swings, I love this one!

What is your favorite kind of music to workout to in the gym?
I’m most energized by 90’s/2000’s rap and of course, Bad Bunny!

Any favorite artist, songs or genres that you would like to hear more of?
ATL rappers – I can never get enough!

Tell us something that we would be surprised to know about you!
I’ve known my husband, Nate, since freshman year of high school

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Family, work, outside of the gym hobbies, favorite food, move etc. Help us get to know a little about you outside the gym!
I was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and grew up in a small town south of Atlanta. I’m a big fan of Atlanta sports teams and a GT Yellow Jacket. I love travelling, rollerblading, mezcal, and board games (always up for a game night!)! I recently started playing pickle ball and am having fun with it!

Name: Lenet Rivas

How long have you been doing CrossFit? 8 years

How long at CrossFit Rx? 6 years

What is the best advice that you have received in CrossFit? Go at your own pace and modify as needed.

Any advice of your own to offer up to someone new or thinking about joining? Focus on your own growth and development. There are advanced athletes surrounding you at any given moment. You can easily build up to what they’re doing, it’ll just take time.

What is your favorite movement? Maybe double unders? They make me pee all the time but they took me so long to string together.

What is your favorite kind of music to workout to in the gym? Coach Chris’s middle school dance Spotify list. Anything with Britney, Kesha, pit bull, daddy yankee, or 90’s hip hop

Any favorite artist, songs or genres that you would like to hear more of? Daddy Yankee

Tell us something that we would be surprised to know about you! I was a CPT in the US Army.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Family, work, outside of the gym hobbies, favorite food, move etc. Help us get to know a little about you outside the gym! I met my BFF, Kaitie and Grey, at CrossFit. My close friend group is basically the old 6 AM crowd. My full time job is to assist clients in retirement invest appropriately. I learned how to play tennis and dance Salsa these past 2 years. My family is Dominican. And my all time favorite way to spend extra time is reading books.

Name: Shane Smith

How long have you been doing CrossFit? A little over 2 years!

How long at CrossFit Rx? A little over 2 years, I started at CrossFit RX!

What is the best advice that you have received in CrossFit? Stay within the stimulus for the workout. I think this can mean a couple of the things, scale so you don’t sacrifice form and don’t come out guns blazing. I often want to push the weight or try to go really fast during workouts, but that doesn’t end well and could potentially lead to injury. Just be patient, trust the coaches, and trust the programming.

Any advice of your own to offer up to someone new or thinking about joining? Sign up! I wanted something new and a place where I could meet people since I had just moved to Atlanta. I became obsessed with CrossFit almost immediately, but I also found a lot of really great people and a community.

What is your favorite movement? Lately it has been muscle ups since I can finally cycle them. For barbell, probably a heavy clean and jerk.

What is your favorite kind of music to workout to in the gym? Nic has this international playlist that is full of some great music and a good variety! I love some Latin music and I catch some Bollywood/Bhangra sometimes. I’m a big fan of just some Top 40 as well!

Any favorite artist, songs or genres that you would like to hear more of? Rosalía is my girl and Bad Bunny is the GOAT

Tell us something that we would be surprised to know about you! I used to be on a Bollywood fusion dance team! I was never trained in dance, but I picked it up as a hobby in college. I know a little Bollywood, bhangra, and some classical Indian dance.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Family, work, outside of the gym hobbies, favorite food, move etc. Help us get to know a little about you outside the gym! Outside of the gym I work for a nonprofit called Kesem, we provide support to kiddos who have a parent with cancer. I also really enjoy being outside hiking, hammocking, climbing, or playing soccer. Most of my family lives in Kansas City, but I have 5 nieces and a nephew that I absolutely adore! Other than that I love to spend time with my friends, eat lots of good food, play boardgames, and get out on the dance floor on the weekends

How long have you been doing CrossFit? 12 years

How long at CrossFit Rx? 11 years

What is the best advice that you have received in CrossFit?Show up each day with the mindset to learn and grow.

Any advice of your own to offer up to someone new or thinking about joining? Remember that it’s about consistently showing up and doing your best that day.

What is your favorite movement? Deadlift

What is your favorite kind of music to workout to in the gym? 90’s hip hop

Tell us something that we would be surprised to know about you! I’m an Ironman triathlete

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Family, work, outside of the gym hobbies, favorite food, move etc. Help us get to know a little about you outside the gym! I love to travel (currently planning a trip to hike Patagonia), enjoy reading and am about to start guitar lessons.

How long have you been doing CrossFit?

I’ve been crossfitting for about 5 years on and off.

How long at CrossFit Rx?

5 years Wouldn’t go anywhere else!

What is the best advice that you have received in CrossFit?

I feel like this is a common one but… lifting without shoes! It really helped me get a feel for the right way to lift. I started in super cushiony running shoes and that did not work out very well. Also working on mobility never hurts!

Any advice of your own to offer up to someone new or thinking about joining?

1. Just join! I did my free workout and wasn’t sure so I didn’t end up joining for another year and that makes me sad. I’m glad I finally figured out that Crossfit was my thing. It may seem intimidating but everyone is super supportive and encouraging! 2. Scale! I value getting in the gym more days a week over going really hard and being too sore the next day. The coaches are also extremely knowledgable on variations if you’re not feeling a particular movement that day.

What is your favorite movement?

Oh man, I’m going to have to say deadlifting. I feel confident in my form so I can lift more weight! So empowering!

What is your favorite kind of music to workout to in the gym?

I’m totally flexible with music. Whatever is playing that gets me pumped up is great!

Any favorite artist, songs or genres that you would like to hear more of?

Nothing in particular… I feel like the coaches do an awesome job in setting an exciting environment, whatever they may be playing.

Tell us something that we would be surprised to know about you!

I love winter sports! I grew up competitively figure skating and then later started snowboarding (just for fun). Yes, I grew up in Florida but that hasn’t stopped me.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Family, work, outside of the gym hobbies, favorite food, move etc. Help us get to know a little about you outside the gym!

– I enjoy cooking up fun stuff in the kitchen! I’ve mostly been learning how to cook different meats but I hope to get back into baking soon (bring on the pumpkin pie)! – I also have a rescue pup, Addy, who some of you may have seen hiding in a cubby whenever I bring her to the gym. I think she’s more of a cat than a dog sometimes! – I’ve taken up golf in the last year as a way to get outside more!

How long have you been doing CrossFit? 8 months (since January 11, 2021)

How long at CrossFit Rx? Also 8 months

What is the best advice that you have received in CrossFit? Leave your ego at the door

Any advice of your own to offer up to someone new or thinking about joining? Don’t be intimidated by the pace or what everyone else is doing because you will learn everyone has come a long way and down their own path

What is your favorite movement? Back Squat

What is your favorite kind of music to workout to in the gym? Hipi-Hop or Rap

Any favorite artist, songs or genres that you would like to hear more of? Rick Ross and Travis Scott

Tell us something that we would be surprised to know about you! My parents are on television

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Family, work, outside of the gym hobbies, favorite food, move etc. Help us get to know a little about you outside the gym! I was born and raised in Kansas City, MO (Go Chiefs) and I am the youngest of three boys. I moved to Atlanta in 2016 because i attended Morehouse College. I am currently working as a high school biology teacher at Riverdale High School. My favorite hobbies are roller skating, I have been skating for three and half years, and playing video games. My favorite foods are Mexican/Hispanic, seafood, and Ethiopian. And I love watching movies and will take any suggestions

How long have you been doing CrossFit? 8 years

How long at CrossFit Rx? 5 or 6 years

What is the best advice that you have received in CrossFit? Check your ego at the door and listen to your body.

Any advice of your own to offer up to someone new or thinking about joining? Same thing. Check your ego at the door. Do what you can do. Prioritize form and technique over how much weight you can lift or how fast you think you can go. Injuries not worth it.

What is your favorite movement? Back squat

What is your favorite kind of music to workout to in the gym? Rap/Hip-Hop/Reggaeton

Any favorite artist, songs or genres that you would like to hear more of? OutKast, 3-6 mafia, UGK, 8 ball & MJG

Tell us something that we would be surprised to know about you! I love to play tennis

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Family, work, outside of the gym hobbies, favorite food, move etc. Help us get to know a little about you outside the gym! Originally from ATL. Went to school at UGA. Bleed red and black (Go Dawgs!!!). I work in finance. Met my best friend and partner for life Lenet at a CrossFit gym in Athens. We have 2 pups. Favorite hobby outside of CrossFit is probably tennis. Also getting into Muay Thai a bit (thank you Nic!). Favorite movie is definitely “Life” with Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence. Favorite food is anything from Chick fil A.

Name: Kelly Comiskey

How long have you been doing CrossFit? Since March 2021

How long at CrossFit Rx? March 2021

What is the best advice that you have received in CrossFit? I’ve received so much helpful advice from coaches & kind members: engage your core (because I often forget), take off shoes for lifting (Nic), get the form right first (probably Ruben!), you can’t outrun a pizza (Jess King) *just kidding she didn’t say that but she introduced me to nutrition and it’s proven to be incredibly valuable.

Any advice of your own to offer up to someone new or thinking about joining? Don’t spend too much time thinking about it- just join and do at least 3x week- you won’t regret it.

What is your favorite movement? I like deadlifts because I feel pretty confident doing them. I cringe at gymnastics, but that gives me something to work on.

What is your favorite kind of music to workout to in the gym? When I am working out it’s rap, but I am otherwise really open to music of all sorts depending on my mood.

Any favorite artist, songs or genres that you would like to hear more of? I actually enjoy picking up on the coaches individual styles and new songs, but please don’t play too much heehaw or slow jams (haha)

Tell us something that we would be surprised to know about you! I spent a good part of my adult life in France and China. I’ve done a full Ironman and would probably do another once I get my strength back!

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Family, work, outside of the gym hobbies, favorite food, move etc. Help us get to know a little about you outside the gym! My husband Sid and I have always trained together. We both really enjoy cycling. We had our son in Canada right before the pandemic. These hot days we are often at the pool. I am also training for the Chicago marathon in October, so trying to get my regular runs in. We are so happy to be members of CrossFit RX- it’s an amazing gem of a gym that adds a lot to our experience of Atlanta.

Name: Michael Toney

How long have you been doing CrossFit? About 5 years

How long at CrossFit Rx? Same – I started t RX!

What is the best advice that you have received in CrossFit? Buy a pair of hand grips

Any advice of your own to offer up to someone new or thinking about joining? It’s a continuous challenge, but you’ll start to notice the little ways that you’re improving and getting better. That helps to keep you going.

What is your favorite movement? I was really excited when bar muscle-ups finally clicked for me.

What is your favorite kind of music to workout to in the gym? Anything I know the words to, which can help push through the workout!

Any favorite artist, songs or genres that you would like to hear more of?

Tell us something that we would be surprised to know about you! Didn’t start drinking coffee until my mid-20s.. now it’s a necessity.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Family, work, outside of the gym hobbies, favorite food, move etc. Help us get to know a little about you outside the gym! I was born and (mostly) raised in Georgia, which is getting rarer in Atlanta these days. I currently work in higher education. I really enjoy traveling and I’m excited to get back to out into the world as we recover from the pandemic.