As a chiropractor and ultra-marathon runner, Dennis Lesniak spent many years being suspicious of CrossFit. Then he found out it really works.
I was first exposed to CrossFit in the fall of 2006 when a few people in chiropractic school heard of it from their military buddies. Some of our friends began embracing the lifestyle, but I thought I was better than CrossFit. I was stronger, faster and fitter. CrossFit workouts were fill in the blank—I probably said it.
It was my own ignorance holding me back. Chiropractors fight an uphill battle against the medical community. We often joke when people say, “I don't believe in chiropractic.” We respond with, “Good. It isn’t a religion. You don’t need to believe in it for it to work.” Interestingly enough, CrossFit is very similar.
CrossFit has become our lives. It permeates everything we do, and that is evident through our families. We have many family members who work out with us on a regular basis and some who have had career shifts because of what we are doing. Every day, we are doing our best to become better in the gym, in our lives, in our chiropractic practice, and in our coaching. I think that is exactly what CrossFit is: giving your best—not just once but every day and in everything.