JMAP 2022 - Downtime

Trying something new.

Sharpening my focus.

Mind and body.

CrossFit is brutally tough.

A brief check-in today. As some of you will know, I thoroughly enjoy exercise and fitness. Beyond keeping myself feeling healthy and strong, it’s a ritual - woven into the fabric of my days - which helps to keep my concentration razor sharp at work. It is also an opportunity to build relationships and bond with others. Whether that be the lasting friendships I’ve made from partaking in competitive sports such as rowing, football and athletics; or the passing acknowledgement from fellow gym goers - those with whom my exercise schedule regularly seems to overlap, those whom I seem to know so much about (their last holiday abroad, their upcoming wedding plans, their personal best one-repetition maximum squat) yet those about whom I know so little. Exercise can be a bedrock for achieving a sense of contentment and accomplishment.

Downtime is important, regardless of one’s walk of life. Each person’s definition of downtime is different. Exercise is my panacea, my escape, from the rigors of daily life. Some might point out that it’s a rather tortuous panacea - particularly the intensity at which I enjoy exercising! I wasted no time carefully researching all the local gyms in the Abdoun and Al-Swaifyeh area where I am staying. I was rather surprised to see that there was an abundance of gyms and exercise facilities nearby. It seems this is a booming market with the vast majority being independent gyms, rather than chains to which I have become accustomed. One particular exercise facility caught my eye - CrossFit Crescent. Located in Baraka Mall, only a ten minute walk from my apartment, this offered the perfect opportunity to explore a new discipline focusing on high intensity functional movements, the ideal match for my short time in Amman.

An abundance of gyms.

Located within a 1.5 mile radius.

Dumbbells.

Curves.

There is something for everyone.

CrossFit Crescent is a large, open-plan space with more barbells, racks and Assault Bikes (I feel sick just writing that!) than I could count. Not to mention the rows of, um - please pardon the pun, rowing machines lined up and ready to demolish those who dare to challenge the chain. I stepped into this vast nirvana (or abyss, depending on your viewpoint) with motivational music blaring out loud and one well-built chap just finishing a set of front-squats. I made sure to turn up in my full gym attire - I wanted to appear like I meant business - akin to donning formal attire for a job interview. Having noticed that I had walked in, he turned down the music and invited me into his sanctuary. Khaled, a CrossFit Crescent member, wasted no time in making me feel welcome and selling the CrossFit dream to me. Whilst he had no involvement in the running of the gym, Khaled called the owner and one of the personal trainers - who were out for lunch - to come along and meet me. Khaled was clearly a trusted member.

I was introduced to Coach Hannah, an American woman who had grown up in Jordan, and swiftly we agreed upon some fitness goals for the next couple of weeks. Coach Hannah seemed meticulous in her approach, a self-proclaimed stickler for technique and form - a shared philosophy, so I gladly purchased the six-session personal training package with her and we agreed upon a time for our first session. Personal trainers are everywhere these days but I have never had one. With my prior repertoire and having been trained by some excellent team coaches in the past, I can’t help but scrutinise - from afar - the abilities and methods of personal trainers in gyms or parks. Within moments of our first session (and certainly by the end, despite not being able to walk or breathe!) it was obvious that Coach Hannah knew her stuff. Her session plans were carefully mapped out: warm-ups were functional, focus on form was paramount, the built-in high-intensity work-out was designed to push me to the limit, and cool-down stretches were relevant to my various newly discovered aches and pains. We worked on a few weightlifting exercises, some in which I had already thought I was proficient, where she would dissect every element of my moment and uncover subtle, but fundamental, flaws. Oh, and kip swings - I had never previously heard of these - ouch! This was more than just a physical test, this was a cerebral nightmare! However, one I thoroughly appreciate and value.

Soaking in knowledge.

This board caught my attention.

Studying a new discipline.

Teaching beginners and reminding experts.

Encouraging self-improvement.

Professionalism and discipline: key attributes for all healthcare professionals and CrossFit athletes. I am blessed to also find immense amounts of joy in my work, so it comes as no surprise that the same goes for my new-found interest in CrossFit. Similar to my work as a doctor, it is varied, challenging and rewarding. It opens up opportunities to develop physical and mental fortitude; a fresh level of fortitude I am also gradually developing through my clinical work with JMAP.

Tomorrow I have my first clinic in the third refugee camp, Talbieh. I feel ready.