Norak CrossFit

Norak CrossFit in Winnipeg uniquely features two levels of wide open floor space, with plenty of open room to warm up as well as cool down and stretch.

Winnipeg’s newest CrossFit gym – Founded by a group of CrossFit athletes and trainers with the idea of developing a fun, functional, hardworking and supportive community of people who want to start, restart or elevate their mental and physical strength.

The facility is a large, clean, welcoming space in Winnipeg’s Exchange District, just off beautiful Waterfront Drive. Five minutes to The Forks, and even closer to all the Exchange District has to offer. When you visit Norak CrossFit, you will find a warm, welcoming small town feel in our little part of the Exchange District.

Norak CrossFit in Winnipeg uniquely features two levels of wide open floor space, with plenty of open room to warm up as well as cool down and stretch. Our equipment is brand new, including ski ergs, rowers, assault bikes, Rogue barbells, kettlebells as well as clean modern bathrooms, and optional towel service. Our gym truly stands out from the rest in the Winnipeg market.

Our name “Norak” is a combination of the words North, and Meraki. North was added because we may live in the southern part of our country, we still all survive a northern climate, which is a shared experience that helps bond us as a community. Meraki is a greek word meaning “ the essence of yourself that is put into your work”. We believe that our gym is a place for putting work into yourself. Our goal is to foster a community of like minded people who want to invest time and energy into building a better self.

Community is one of the truly unique features of the CrossFit exercise regime. To go through seemingly insurmountable workouts together with a group, builds a kind of bond that is uncommon in today’s society of phones and media.

We want to foster an attitude of always striving to move the needle closer to the goals you have set for yourself, whatever they may be. At our gym, we are always coaching you to achieve better technique, a better time, more weight, or the best you can do that day during our workouts. Not everyday is going to be a personal best. But giving your best that day is still progressing.

We believe that by investing yourself into your workouts, and achieving new heights of both physical and mental toughness, you will be able to transfer that new found strength to your life outside the gym and affect positive change in all aspects.

At Norak CrossFit, we strive to be a lead from the front kind of gym. What this means to us, is that we work at developing and empowering our front line staff. We feel this helps deliver a better end product, as the coaches have an ownership in the classes they are teaching. This, combined with the fact that our coaches do CrossFit, makes your gym experience feel personal, and will help build a level of trust with your coach, which does not exist outside of this fitness community.

When you find yourself halfway into a workout, and are thinking to yourself, there is no possible way I will be able to finish this, your coach will be there to help you push through your perceived limits, because they have also done that same workout and have had that exact feeling.

Up until my mid-twenties, I lacked the confidence to take chances or overcome difficult tasks. When it came to participating in sports or any physical activity, I completely dismissed the idea of joining in. I was sure my lack of coordination and talent would pull everyone else down and the only outcome would be an embarrassing memory.  So it was with some hesitation that I tried my first CrossFit workout. I was really surprised at how much i enjoyed it. Not only was the workout fun, but it was done in such a supportive environment, that I totally forgot to worry about anything!

Becoming a competent athlete takes patience and practice, and it is the same for coaching. I have spent countless hours expanding my capabilities through moving mindfully, studying current publications, working on proper technique and using my own training as a learning experience. I have learned that having the right gym atmosphere, along with caring trainers who have patience, knowledge and skill, can turn the chore of getting your daily workout into something that can become not only the best hour of your day, but the hour you look forward to all week.

I discovered CrossFit in 2012 as I was walking on the treadmill watching tv at your local global gym. I was overweight and barely knew what I was doing. I was intrigued with what I saw and decided to try a class. Little did I know this would change my life forever. With some great coaching and a powerful community I was hooked. Every workout left me challenged both physically and mentally, that combined with some proper nutrition lead me to lose over 25% body fat and 100 pounds.

My true passion lies with helping women and pregnant and postpartum athletes. My journey here started with my passion and realization of what the CrossFit methodology can do and be. I began making my health a priority when I moved to Winnipeg to attend the University of Winnipeg at 18 years old, I had a few health issues to work through which brought me to exercise, movement and nutrition. By 2011, I had begun CrossFit and my world shifted. I was lucky enough to coach through my Kinesiology degree allowing me to practically apply what I was learning. This education helped me focus on my healing journey which has brought me to this point today.

Roll around to 2018, I am now an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner, the owner of my own therapy business, Kinetically Whole Therapies as well as the mother to a inquisitive, happy little boy. I believe my pregnancy happened for a reason, and it shifted my goals and ambitions. It made me realize the gap in knowledge and education surrounding pregnant and postpartum athleticism. I am eager to bring this to Winnipeg, to help our women feel empowered to heal pre, post & during pregnancy.

CrossFit has been a part of my life since 2016 and in those 5 years I have gained an unexpected family. For me, CrossFit is not just about the physical benefits. It’s about learning, engaging, getting involved, being stimulated, challenged, to gain life long friendships, and most importantly to have fun. CrossFit has allowed me to grow in more ways than I could have ever thought and has contributed to the man I have become.

My passion is people, anatomy, and human mechanics. Early on I became intrigued with the body, it’s movement, and how it works. I have been fortunate enough to have witnessed first hand the great benefits fitness can offer people. With this, I immediately knew I wanted a career that incorporated my passions, allowed me to be a part of someone’s journey, and if permitted, lend a healing hand. 

Norak allowed me to begin my adventure by becoming a Coach. Coaching added fuel to the fire and opened my eyes to the career choice of Massage Therapy. Massage Therapy allows me to work with the body and its movement, along with taking part in my clients health and well being. With the combination of Massage Therapy and Coaching, I have been able to expand my knowledge, skills, and abilities and continue to strive for my full potential. 

I was first introduced to CrossFit in 2011 when I felt that my physical training and fitness goals needed an overhaul. All it took was one introductory class and I was hooked.

From its diverse movement modalities and focus on not only physical strength, but also in mind, I found in CrossFit something I didn’t even realize I was searching for.  Physical fitness had a completely new definition in my mind.

What amazed me the most about CrossFit, is that it has less to do with physical feats of strength or endurance and more to do with the relationships built between people working together. The conversations between those lying on the floor covered in sweat after a Metcon, the positive impact a coach can have in someone’s day and the camaraderie among the members for that one hour, that was what I found truly amazing.

Fast forward to the present day and I couldn’t be more honoured to be a part of Megan Maes’ mission to bring health and well being to its members and the surrounding community. And while my own personal training goals are ever changing and I have yet to find the strength to say ‘NO’ to a donut, I am excited and humbled at the opportunity to coach and be a part of NORAK CrossFit.

In 2017, I started CrossFit with the intention of training for high level rugby. Quickly I fell in love, originally for the competition and structured programming. But as I evolved as an athlete, and later as a coach, I learned to have new reasons for loving the sport. Every day I go to the gym I am challenged physically, but more importantly, mentally.

I came to Norak in 2019 after having spent two years at another gym in the city. I had over a year of experience coaching and competing at high level competitions. Having heard about Coach Megan through the community, I knew that Norak was definitely somewhere I could grow both as an athlete and a coach.

I never want to be someone that is limited in life by their health. If I want to climb a mountain, I will climb a mountain. And that is my goal as a coach: to every person that walks through the door, I want you to not feel limited in life. I want to help you climb your mountain, whatever your mountain may be.

As a lifetime sports and fitness enthusiast I enjoy activities that challenge the mind and body. When I found CrossFit, I knew it was something to sink into and find an endless journey of challenges and accomplishments.

I started CrossFit in 2013 during my posting in Nova Scotia as an RCAF Search and Rescue Pilot. A few coworkers introduced me to it, and I immediately fell in love with passion and the atmosphere created by the people that participate in the sport. There was no CrossFit gym in the town we were living in. My friends, coworkers and I would meet at the military base gym and create a workout or complete an existing CrossFit workout. We didn’t exactly know what we were doing but the energy and the fun we experienced was what made it so addicting. The drive and perseverance of people struggling together toward a similar goal regardless of the location, equipment, or conditions is what inspired me to dedicate myself to CrossFit.

Norak CrossFit has given me the opportunity to develop the skills to help people become more healthy and vibrant versions of themselves. My goal is to create a welcoming environment where any level of athlete from newcomer to the elite CrossFitter will find new limits. Having something to look forward to aside from just physical goals is a key component in effective training. The collaborative experiences we will create at Norak will bring more joy to our lives in and out of the gym and I am eager to see what we can develop together.

In 2018, I was seeking to build more physical strength and joined CrossFit with that initial intent. I’ve realized that CrossFit workouts are more than just becoming physically stronger, as the mental aspect of how willing you are to learn and push, really tests your patience and focus.  I love this combination as it creates a goal oriented, energetic and supportive atmosphere. Furthermore, our members (myself included) build confidence and transition from simply working out to taking leaps forward through their training, which I have found to be highly rewarding.

When I joined Norak, I met so many amazing people. The community has only ever been a fun and encouraging one, with such caring coaches I look up to. I found myself very passionate about programming, movement, learning and helping others.  This made me want to take the next step to become a coach which now allows me to spread my passion to the members of Norak and be a part of their journey to reaching full potential. I teach spin classes as well and enjoy motivating and pushing people to challenge their mind and body, so this seemed like a great opportunity to bring that into my coaching in CrossFit. I have always looked forward to building relationships with our athletes and want to help push them towards goals that are fulfilling and just get people moving their bodies. I love coaching, educating and am eager to continue growing as both an athlete and a coach.

“If you’re looking for a trainer who is down to earth, genuine, with a kind soul who will also be sure to kick your ass in the gym, Meg is your girl.”

Great coaching team and location. I have been keeping an eye out for a CrossFit gym in the exchange area for the last few years. Highly recommend this place to people of all fitness levels. The atmosphere will keep you coming back for the enjoyment while achieving your fitness goals at the same time!

Love, love, love ❤ this gym! Have been grinning and bearing some gyms/classes all my life – can’t tell you enough how much I enjoy attending the longevity classes!! Megan and Jedd are great trainers and private sessions with Tiffany (Tiffany is osteopath on-site) have been awesome. Mike seems great as well (only one class with Mike). Paul M at the desk is a lovely person and so helpful as well! Exceptional Physiotherapist Iain is on-site as well. Holistic team approach at Norak! Activity is paramount for aging well. Norak trainers are great at modifying the workouts for your body and fitness level ..don’t think about it… get out of your comfort zone and just try it!! Highly recommend