Aug. 11--AUGUST 11

WILKES-BARRE -- When Brennan Morton returned to Northeastern Pennsylvania in 2008 he was looking to continue an exercise program he had discovered during two tours of duty in Iraq. The Wilkes-Barre man was surprised to discover that no one in the area had even heard of the exercise program called CrossFit.

Although CrossFit got its original boost from military members, it isn't solely geared to soldiers. Anyone from students to housewives to firefighters can do the workout, which is based on functionality.

Morton served as a Reconnaissance Marine, a special operations unit, and as a sniper. He was into bodybuilding, often spending three to four hours lifting each day in the gym. Today, his workouts are limited to roughly 20 minutes a day about six days a week and he says he has never been in better shape. He's stronger, faster and thinner.

That's why he's introducing this new fitness approach to the region.

NEPA CrossFit began this spring in an office space on Wilkes-Barre Boulevard. There are no treadmills, elliptical machines or Reebok steps. Instead, the gym is fitted with pulleys, ropes, resistance bands and kettle bells. There are even automotive tires, which have nothing to do with cars and everything to do with lifting and tossing.

Missing in Morton's gym are people listening to music on their iPods or talking on a cell phone while running on a treadmill. There are no organized classes in which everyone is doing the same workout. CrossFit is a strength and conditioning program based on constantly varied, functional movement performed at high intensity. "While other workouts train those to become excellent at one very narrow, specific task, like bodybuilding, CrossFitters train to become good at all tasks," explained Morton. "It's all about training for real life, functionality."

And while it is good for everyone, it is an especially appealing workout for soldiers, firefighters and policemen as well as athletes.

CrossFit seeks a balance of 10 general physical skills placing no one skill higher in importance than the others. The skills are cardiovascular endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, coordination, agility, balance and accuracy.

But CrossFit is not a bodybuilding system, Morton stresses. "We do not do bicep curls or calf raises," he said. "We do not lift any weight with the sole intention of inflating our muscles. We don't isolate muscles and we don't use machines. We don't believe that it serves the purpose to be fully functional in the real world. After all, who bicep curls a gallon of milk? Why use a machine when your body can be one?"

While Morton is an advocate of the program, he admits trying to introduce it in Northeastern Pennsylvania has been difficult. Still, in just two months after opening the gym, he has 20 clients signed up and the word is spreading.

Morton doesn't want a client to just go through the motions of an exercise routine to finish a class without breaking a sweat.

"Fitness is not easy," he said. "It shouldn't be. You should challenge yourself. Fitness hurts. The first time here will feel like the first time you've ever worked out. Depending upon how hard you pushed yourself, you will feel like you got hit by a train.