When Tias and Jess first walked into CrossFit Viroqua, they were just a young couple looking to get in better shape together. Like a lot of people, they weren’t chasing podium finishes or Instagram fame. They just wanted to feel healthier, stronger, and more confident in their own bodies.
They started training side by side, sharing warm-ups, encouraging each other through hard workouts, and celebrating the small wins that come from simply showing up. At the time, they probably had no idea that joining the gym would become something much bigger than just a fitness routine.
Over the years, we’ve had the honor of watching their story unfold.
We were there as they trained through wedding planning. We were there when they became husband and wife. We were there when Jess trained through two pregnancies, focusing on strength, movement, and long-term health for herself and her babies.
And now, they walk through the doors with two amazing, healthy young boys, kids who already think it’s normal to see their parents exercise, sweat, and take care of themselves.
Even more special, Tias’s parents have joined the gym too. Three generations, all moving, laughing, and supporting each other under the same roof.
This is what we mean when we talk about community.
This is what we mean when we say CrossFit Viroqua is for real life.
What Kids Actually See
When children grow up around fitness, something powerful happens.
They don’t see exercise as punishment.
They don’t see the gym as a place only for certain body types.
They don’t grow up thinking health is something you worry about later.
They see:
- Mom lifting weights and smiling afterward.
- Dad high-fiving his workout partners.
- Grandma working on her strength.
- Grandpa working on his mobility.
- Coaches who know their names.
- A room full of people cheering for each other.
To them, this becomes normal.
And that might be the most important gift a parent can give.
Because kids don’t do what we say.
They do what we do.
When they grow up seeing their parents and grandparents take care of themselves, they absorb a powerful message:
“This is just how life works. We move. We take care of our bodies. We show up.”
The Power of a Family That Trains Together
For Tias and Jess, CrossFit Viroqua isn’t just a place to work out. It’s part of their family’s story.
It’s where they built strength before their wedding.
It’s where Jess stayed active and confident during pregnancy.
It’s where their boys now run around, laugh, and grow up surrounded by positive role models.
It’s where their parents are choosing to stay strong and independent as they age.
That’s the ripple effect of one decision:
Walking through the doors for the first time.
One membership turned into:
- Healthier parents
- Stronger pregnancies
- Active kids
- Engaged grandparents
- A family culture built around movement and connection
This is how communities change.
Not through big, dramatic transformations, but through consistent, everyday choices made by families just like theirs.
This Is Becoming the New Normal
More and more at CrossFit Viroqua, we’re seeing the same pattern:
- Couples who train together
- Parents who bring their kids
- Grandparents joining the Legends classes
- Whole families building healthier habits side by side
It’s not unusual anymore to see kids cheering from the sidelines, doing their own little “workouts,” or growing up around barbells and jump ropes.
And that’s exactly how we want it.
Because when fitness becomes part of family life, it stops being a chore and starts becoming a culture.
A culture of strength.
A culture of support.
A culture of showing up for yourself and the people you love.
Your Family’s Story Could Start Here
Maybe you’re a parent who wants more energy.
Maybe you’re a couple looking for something you can do together.
Maybe you’re a grandparent who wants to keep up with the grandkids.
Or maybe you just want a place where your kids grow up seeing health, strength, and community as the norm.
That’s what CrossFit Viroqua is all about.
Not just workouts.
Not just classes.
But real people, real families, and real lives being changed over time.
Just like Tias and Jess.
Ready to start your family’s story?
Set up a free No Sweat Intro and come see what CrossFit Viroqua is all about.
We’ll sit down, talk about your goals, and help you take the first step—together.
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