Let’s be honest. Substance use disorder sucks. It ruins people’s lives, destroys families and relationships, and most of all often erodes one’s confidence in life. But it does not have to be like this and locally a national player is entering Michigan via CrossFit Luminary for the first time, offering local folks who are seeking to stay sober a running chance at hitting their goals.
The Phoenix originated in 2006 and was started by Scott Strode. According to their website, they seek to “offer a free sober active community to individuals who have suffered from a substance use disorder and to those who choose a sober life. Using a peer support model, we help members heal and rebuild their lives while also striving to eliminate stigma around recovery.”
Strode discovered while in recovery from his own issues with addiction that adding a healthy workout routine to his life helped with many of the problems that can plague those seeking a sober lifestyle.
When asked how this was important to his recovery, he responded by saying, "It was surrounding myself with people who would rather get up at 7 in the morning to climb a mountain than to stay up until 7 in the morning, drinking and using. With influences like that, I just moved further away from the darkness of my addiction.”
The Phoenix welcomes guests of all fitness levels and asks only that folks who wish to attend abide by a few standard rules. If you are planning to attend your first Phoenix event, you will need have 48 hours of continuous sobriety before arriving. First-time attendees are asked to sign a Team Member Agreement and Waiver and to fill out an Enrollment Form found on their
site. Most of all, members who seek to attend regularly are asked to commit to a sober lifestyle.
So while the new year offers many challenges, The Phoenix offers the kind of health challenge that is certain to have a positive impact on the lives of any who enter CrossFit Luminary’s doors.