If you walk into a typical gym, the warm-up usually looks the same.
People on treadmills, staring straight ahead.
A few quiet stretches in the corner.
Headphones in. Eyes down. No conversation.
It’s not wrong. It just isn’t very fun.
At CrossFit Viroqua, we do things a little differently.
The other day, our warm-up was something we call the Pizza Box Game. Every athlete grabbed an ab mat and held it in one hand, flat, like they were carrying a pizza box. Then the rules were simple: walk around the gym and try to knock other people’s “pizza” out of their hands, without dropping your own.
If your pizza hit the floor?
Five air squats.
Or five burpees.
Or a handful of jumping jacks.
Then you were right back in the game.
Within a couple of minutes, the entire gym changed.
People were laughing.
Sneaking up behind each other.
Shuffling their feet.
Twisting and turning.
Trying to protect their “pizza” while knocking someone else’s away.
It looked less like a workout and more like recess.
And that’s exactly the point.
Movement That Doesn’t Feel Like Exercise
One of the biggest barriers people face when starting a fitness routine is the belief that it has to be miserable to be effective.
They picture endless cardio machines.
Boring, repetitive workouts.
Being alone in a crowded room.
So they put it off.
Or they try for a few weeks and quit.
Or they tell themselves they just “don’t like working out.”
But here’s the truth: humans are designed to move, play, and interact. When you turn movement into something social and engaging, something changes. It stops feeling like a chore and starts feeling like something you want to do.
The Pizza Box Game is a perfect example of that.
Without thinking about it, people are:
- Walking in different directions
- Changing speeds
- Rotating their torso
- Reacting to others
- Squatting or jumping after losing their mat
In just a few minutes, heart rates come up, joints loosen, and the body is ready for the workout. But more importantly, the mood in the room shifts.
Strangers talk.
Friends joke.
New members feel included.
It breaks the ice in a way a treadmill never could.
Why Fun Matters in Fitness
At CrossFit Viroqua, we don’t just sell workouts. We build an environment where people actually enjoy showing up.
Because consistency, not intensity is what changes lives.
No one sticks with something they hate. But people will return to a place where they feel:
- Welcomed
- Encouraged
- Connected
- And yes… entertained once in a while
Games like the Pizza Box Game remind people that fitness doesn’t have to be serious all the time. You can work hard and still laugh. You can improve your health and still have fun doing it.
And when someone leaves class smiling instead of dreading the next workout, that’s a huge win.
The Hidden Benefit: Confidence
There’s another reason these warm-ups matter.
They level the playing field.
In the Pizza Box Game, it doesn’t matter how much you can deadlift or how fast you can run a mile. The strongest athlete in the room can still lose their “pizza” to someone who just walked in for their first class.
That creates a sense of equality and connection. Newer members don’t feel like they’re at the bottom of the totem pole. Everyone is just a person trying to keep their pizza safe.
Those small moments build confidence.
And confidence keeps people coming back.
Fitness That Feels Like Community
When people think about CrossFit, they often picture intense workouts, heavy barbells, and people pushing themselves to the limit.
That’s part of it.
But the part most people don’t see is the laughter during warm-ups. The inside jokes. The games. The conversations between sets. The high-fives at the end of class.
Those moments are what turn a gym into a community.
The Pizza Box Game might only last five minutes. But it sets the tone for the entire class. It reminds everyone that this place isn’t just about reps and rounds.
It’s about people.
It’s about movement.
And sometimes, it’s about protecting your pizza at all costs.
If you’ve been putting off starting a fitness routine because you think it has to be boring, lonely, or intimidating, maybe it’s time to experience something different.
Because at CrossFit Viroqua, even the warm-ups can feel like recess.
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