When you were a child, playing was fun. Somewhere along the way, though, most of us turned into adults and forgot how to play.

Often times, though, it's not that we don't want to play; many times, adults just lose their youthful fitness to the point that playing is no longer fun. 

When a new prospect shows up at my door to start CrossFit, after I ask him (or her) what his goals are, I always explain to him what my goal is for all my clients: To get your youthful fitness back!

Children are born mobile and fit. Swinging across monkey bars, jumping on trampolines and playing tag is fun for most 8-year-olds. Meanwhile, when someone over the age of 18 comes into my gym, he or she usually laughs at the thought of being able to maneuver elegantly across monkey bars, let alone enjoy it.

"It’s possible for monkey bars to be fun in your 30s and 40s and even 50s and 60s," I tell my new client, to which I usually get a skeptical eye raise.

This weekend, though, proved my theory. We cancelled our 10 am and 11 am classes and headed to the beach. After a more traditional workout in the sand —partner sand sprints, burpees and air squats—we spent the day playing like children. Smiling like children. Laughing like children. 

From volleyball and hoover ball and spike ball, to swimming and water balloon tossing, to epic men versus women Tug-o-Wars (the most gruelling thing all of us had done all week), to three-legged races, it was a beautiful sight watching men and women in their 30s and 40s playing like 8-year-olds. 

Host a play day at your box. It will be the best community event you’ve run all year.