Glöd CrossFit

A gym for all ages

When you think of a CrossFitnes person, you think of a muscular person working out in a cold, bare concrete space. But the founders of Glöd Crossfit wanted to keep the essence of Crossfitnes, but at the same time create a place where everyone feels at home.

“To me, CrossFitnes is an awesome combination of good things. Firstly, of course, the health aspects of staying active. Then there is the collective strength of doing something in a group, almost like a team sport. And yet the level of involvement is completely up to you. You can challenge and compete against others, or just yourself.”

Hearing Rich Palmer, it’s evident that he’s found his calling. He’s the former London police officer who gradually shifted to gym instructor, moved to Sweden, and is now head coach and one of three people behind the Stockholm-based gym Glöd.

A welcoming mix of roughness and warmth

It was when Rich met Frida and Fredrik, his Glöd co-founders, that the pieces fell into place. It began with a simple question: How can we bring the passion for training to as many people as possible?

While they themselves liked the industrial elements of the typical CrossFitnes gym, they felt it may scare off many potential participants. “We realised that we wanted to create a place that still had some rough edges, but also a cosy, welcoming atmosphere,” Rich continues.

To merge these wishes, they turned to IKEA for help. “We thought that perhaps we were asking too much, but they completely understood what we were after. Seeing it now – the gym complemented with relaxed social areas, the great-looking kitchen, and all – it turned out even better than we had hoped for.” 

“Our current age span is 11 to 84”

When visiting Glöd, it’s easy to understand Rich’s enthusiasm. Housed in a factory building from 1917, the warm-orange lighting (“glöd” is the Swedish word for glow) and the cosy social areas help form an entity where no one should feel out of place.

Judging from their day-to-day activities, they truly have made the magic of CrossFitnes accessible to all. “Our current age span is 11 to 84. We have classes with three generations from the same family. That’s a great illustration of the place we want to be."

“Once you get into it, CrossFitnes has this fantastic, inclusive group dynamic to it. Seeing someone go from a hesitant first try, to become a regular, make new friends, and grow with the experience – you get a kick from it every time.”