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While on a ship undergoing a refueling and complex overhaul at Newport News Shipyard, Sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) are increasingly finding new ways to stay busy in their down time.
One Sailor, Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Alejandro Lazo, spends his time pursuing a dream of inspiring and coaching people through CrossFit.
“When I first started CrossFit I was just doing it for myself, and then I actually started pursuing something I could on the side.” said Lazo. “I started thinking that after my time is done in the Navy, whenever that is, I want to open my own CrossFit gym. I want to be able to touch people’s lives in that way.”
Lazo checked onboard George Washington in late 2015 as part of the three-carrier hull-swap. Once he settled back into the Hampton Roads area following his deployment and hull-swap, he began coaching at a CrossFit gym he previously worked out at. In addition to coaching at a local gym, Lazo was also a Fitness Enhancement Program (FEP) facilitator and Command Fitness Leader (CFL). Through his experience with large groups, he says, he became confident and comfortable in his skills. He wanted to take those skills and move on to individual and private lessons.
“I’ve grown and developed a lot from teaching FEP classes and teaching large CrossFit classes, so now I want to see the other side of the spectrum and get into private sessions. One on one it’s easier on me and the client, but it’s also a whole other beast teaching individually. I really do enjoy doing it.”
One of his shipmates, Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Sofia Knight, says she heard about Lazo being into CrossFit and wanting to teach private lessons. She told him as soon as he is qualified and ready, she wanted to start with him immediately.
“Once he got everything set up, he sat me down, gave me a little introductory course and asked me if I was sure I wanted this. Then he prepared me for what the next eight weeks were going to be like and I was all in,” said Knight. “Since day one, it was meant to be.”
Lazo doesn’t just do private sessions. He also coaches a group class as well through a gym he built at home. He says his client base is primarily centered through a Facebook and Instagram account his wife created for him under the name “Beach Street Fitness”, a title which is he currently working to make a Limited Liability Company (LLC). He does this all while ensuring it doesn’t affect his career as a Sailor.
“It’s hard balancing this and being in the Navy, especially now with being in the yards, but work is work,” said Lazo. “My wife is a huge help with handling my promotions and management. She manages my social media, my clientele and setting up who I have. As far as scheduling I just play it by ear. It’s hectic, but I still make it work because I’m passionate about it. Whatever you’re passionate about, you can make work.”
One of the things Lazo says makes him passionate about CrossFit is the community he became a part of.
“Everybody does the same workout,” said Lazo. “We might not be doing the same weights but we are doing the same workout. So the sense of competition is there but everyone is there to push you on. If I get done first or second, I’m not just going to clean up my weights and mind my own business, I’m going to turn to the guy next to me and I’m going to cheer him on. That’s what drew me in. No one is selfish. Everyone cares about the greater good for everyone else. It’s such a cool sense of community and bond that I don’t see anywhere else. You don’t find many sports where people cheer louder for the last person to finish than the first person to finish. That’s what drew me in and I’ve never looked back.”
Knight was also drawn into the CrossFit community and is glad she got involved with Lazo. According to Knight, Lazo has proven himself to be an instructor that has not only helped her get in shape, but helped her hopefully achieve her goal of scoring an Outstanding High on the upcoming Physical Readiness Test (PRT). Once she feels more confident after more time training with Lazo, Knight looks forward to entering a CrossFit competition later on.
“Through the seven weeks since I started with him, it’s been intense, but I’ve seen so much progress,” said Knight. “I wanted to get into CrossFit and everything he’s done since I’ve met him has been beyond outstanding work. I got a good coach with Lazo. Until he transfers out of here, I hope to continue working with him.”
Lazo said he looks forward to continuing coaching throughout his time in the Navy while it allows, and wants to continue working toward his dream of opening up a full-time gym when he decides to leave the Navy. Until then, he will continue training and coaching to help impact lives in the one way he can.
“Helping people is something I’ve always been into,” said Lazo. “I’ve always wanted to help people out and I really discovered that I can do that through CrossFit. We accept any and every one. There’s no limit. All you have to is come in and leave your ego at the door.”
Anyone interested in working with Lazo can contact him through his work email, or through his promotional Facebook and Instagram accounts. To join a class run by the command’s Fit Boss, Nate Owen, Sailors can join his class held at Huntington Hall on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings from 5:15 a.m. to 6:15 a.m.
| Date Taken: | 08.24.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 08.25.2017 15:02 |
| Story ID: | 246031 |
| Location: | NEWPORT NEWS, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 75 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Power through Fitness; Sailor Coaches CrossFit in Spare Time, by CPO Anna Van Nuys, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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