Katie Rose Hejtmanek, "The Cult of CrossFit: Christianity and the American Exercise Phenomenon" (NYU Press, 2025)
Apr 21, 2025
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Katie Rose Hejtmanek, a cultural and psychological anthropologist, explores the intriguing intersections of CrossFit and American Christianity. She reveals how CrossFit embodies elements of cultural Christianity, with intense workouts paralleling themes of salvation and community. Hejtmanek discusses the transformation of traditional hero narratives, especially through the empowerment of women in the sport. The episode also touches on the controversies surrounding the brand, including its founder and issues of inclusivity and health advocacy in the face of societal shifts.
CrossFit embodies a cultural Christianity through personal narratives of transformation, echoing themes of sin and redemption without strict religious adherence.
The demographic dominance of white, highly educated individuals within CrossFit raises critical concerns about inclusivity and socioeconomic barriers to entry.
CrossFit's unique affiliate business model promotes individual autonomy and community empowerment, yet struggles against the pressures of commercialization and corporate influence.
Deep dives
Cultural Christianity in CrossFit
Cultural Christianity is a significant theme within the CrossFit community, which integrates elements reminiscent of traditional Christian narratives without adhering strictly to religious practices. Many CrossFit participants share personal testimonials that echo the themes of sin and redemption, describing their transformative journeys as akin to a salvation experience. This narrative structure parallels the Christian tradition of overcoming struggles to attain a better self, yet participants often do not identify with any specific religious practices. The focus on personal transformation amid physical challenges draws from broader American narratives of self-improvement and community that are deeply entrenched in cultural Christianity.
Demographics of CrossFit
The demographic makeup of CrossFit participants is telling, with a clear predominance of white individuals, young adults, and those with higher education and income levels. Approximately 86% of CrossFitters in the United States identify as white, with equal gender representation among participants. This elite demographic reflects CrossFit's appeal to a specific socioeconomic group, raising questions about inclusivity within the brand. While there are representations of diversity in some specific gyms, the overall picture indicates that CrossFit largely caters to a certain elite segment of the American population.
Capitalism and the CrossFit Business Model
CrossFit's business strategy embodies a unique capitalist framework that distinguishes itself from traditional franchise models. The creator, Greg Glassman, emphasizes an affiliate system that minimizes franchise-like controls, allowing gym owners to maintain autonomy while adhering to CrossFit principles. This model promotes a narrative of individualism and community empowerment, situating the brand within a story of American innovation and entrepreneurial spirit. However, despite its anti-franchise ethos, CrossFit has grappled with issues of commercialization, particularly in the face of growing corporate influences and recent ownership changes.
Myths of the Frontier and American Heroism
CrossFit's cultural narrative frequently invokes metaphors of the frontier, portraying gym spaces as rugged arenas akin to the challenging terrains of American history. The design of CrossFit gyms, often resembling industrial environments, reflects a rejection of traditional fitness aesthetics and emphasizes hardship and endurance. This setting not only appeals to traditional American ideals of strength and individualism but also celebrates a hyper-masculine sense of heroism commonly associated with military service. As a result, CrossFit cultivates a narrative where participants can actively engage in their fitness journeys as modern-day frontiersmen, challenging both physical and social boundaries.
Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic presented an unexpected challenge to CrossFit, contradicting the community's ethos of preparedness for apocalyptic scenarios. With gym closures leading to a halt in routines, many participants expressed feelings of helplessness and frustration, reflecting a disconnect between the narrative of survival training and the reality they faced. This situation severely tested the community's resilience and adaptability, leading to significant shifts in brand perception, particularly in light of Greg Glassman's controversial remarks and subsequent departures from the organization. The fallout prompted an evaluation of CrossFit’s values and inclusivity, as it faced backlash over issues of racism and its handling of public health crises.
CrossFit in the United States has become increasingly popular, around which a fascinating culture has developed which shapes everyday life for the people devoted to it. CrossFit claims to be many things: a business, a brand, a tremendously difficult fitness regimen, a community, a way to gain salvation, and a method to survive the apocalypse. In The Cult of CrossFit: Christianity and the American Exercise Phenomenon (NYU Press, 2025), Dr. Katie Rose Hejtmanek examines how this exercise program is shaped by American Christian values and practices, connecting American religious ideologies to secular institutions in contemporary American culture.
Drawing upon years of immersing herself in CrossFit gyms in the United States and across six continents, this book illustrates how US CrossFit operates using distinctly American codes, ranging from its intensity and patriarchal militarism to its emphasis on (white) salvation and the adoration of the hero and vigilante. Despite presenting itself as a secular space, Dr. Hejtmanek argues that CrossFit is both heavily influenced by and deeply intertwined with American Christian values. She makes the case that the Christianity that shapes CrossFit is the Christianity that shapes much of America, usually in ways we do not even notice. Offering a new cross-cultural perspective for understanding a popular workout, The Cult of CrossFit provides a window into a particularly American rendition of a Christian plotline, lived out one workout at a time.
This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose new book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda’s episodes on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts.
