This is my first time writing publicly about my faith, and when I decided to do so, I had no idea what I was going to write. I hadn’t thought about any aspect of this; all I knew was that I was committed to sharing my faith and my personal journey with the Lord. It feels fitting that my first spiritual post would be about an experience that has deeply impacted me every Easter since 2022.
It has been a few years since I started working out at my local CrossFit gym. I believe it was in 2022 when I first came to know there is an Easter WOD (WOD stands for “Workout of the Day” in CrossFit terminology)—yes, a workout dedicated to Jesus, to remember and to feel the suffering that Jesus went through and what He has done for us on the cross. Since that first experience, this has become an annual tradition for me, one that I look forward to with both reverence and determination.
There are multiple variations of Easter WOD that happen across the world. The one we do at our box (what CrossFit enthusiasts call their gym) goes like this:
- 100 Double unders
- 800 meters barbell carry (95#/75#)
- 100 Burpees
The double unders represent the lashes that soldiers inflicted on Jesus, the barbell carry represents Jesus carrying the cross, and finally, the burpees represent the death and resurrection of Jesus.
The first time I did the workout, I was moved; I was in tears. It was so much pain to carry a 55# or 45# barbell back then in 2022, and imagining what Jesus had gone through—how He was beaten up by the time He was carrying the cross, how He was mocked, how He had a crown of thorns on His head, how He was falsely accused, how He had been lashed. There is no greater love than the love of Christ.
Every year I look forward to this workout and today was no different. I went in for the workout and we had a good turnout. What made today very special was when a fellow athlete was struggling to finish his burpees, a group of 15-20 athletes joined in for synchronous burpees, creating a beautiful moment of community support. What an awesome experience it was to witness this brotherhood in action—much like how Simon of Cyrene helped Jesus carry His cross.
This workout was and is very impactful, and I so love to do this workout and look forward to this day throughout the whole year.
What makes this experience so profound is how it connects the physical with the spiritual. With each painful step carrying that barbell, I gained a tiny glimpse into Christ’s suffering. With each burpee, I reflected on how He conquered death so that we might live.
It is because of what Jesus did for me and for everyone on the cross that we have eternal life; because of what He has done, I have access to God. Jesus did this even before I existed and even knowing that I would stumble and fall short. That is the beauty of His love.
I feel blessed to have found a box that incorporates the Bible and is not afraid to talk about the gospel. Over the past four years, this annual Easter WOD tradition has deepened both my faith and my understanding of Christ’s sacrifice in ways I never expected. The physical challenge serves as a powerful reminder of His love, while the community aspect reflects His church in action.
This experience has taught me that faith can be strengthened in all aspects of our lives—even in a gym workout. As I continue this tradition each year, I am grateful for the way it connects my physical discipline with spiritual growth, creating a meaningful Easter reflection beyond the traditional church service.