Why Gloria Gaynor, the Grammy Award-Winning Queen of Disco, Loves CrossFit

Gloria Gaynor rides an Assault bike at Vivamus CrossFit.

“What do CrossFit, disco, and WHOOP have in common?” I asked Gloria Gaynor as we started our interview.

“They all share the Queen of Disco, Gloria Gaynor,” she joked.

Gaynor trains with me at my gym, Vivamus CrossFit in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, where she has become an ardent member of the Vivamus family, training at least three times per week.

Gaynor is part of our masters athletes program. She will push a Torque Tank for 600 m, then come back to the gym and do a short AMRAP with wall balls. I enjoy coaching her and seeing her put in the work.

For Gaynor, the “I Will Survive” hitmaker, staying relevant in the music industry is a mix of talent and leading a healthy lifestyle.

Gaynor claims fitness plays a huge role in her work as a musician, and as she marks more than 50 years in the music industry, she says CrossFit and her love of working out are contributing to her longevity..

“The benefits of CrossFit far outweigh any … discomfort or time restrictions. CrossFit is not only good for you physically but also mentally and brings stability to every part of your life,” the three-time Grammy winner said.

CrossFit has helped Gaynor maintain her fitness following several surgeries and other health concerns. Prior to joining Vivamus CrossFit, there was a short period of time when Gaynor was finding herself short of breath. Physicians were unable to find a reason for it, and  Gaynor was understandably worried.

“Thanks to CrossFit, all those worries are gone,” she quipped.

Gaynor outside Vivamus

“One amazing moment was shortly after starting CrossFit: I was dancing and singing through a concert and was jumping on stage. My band members were taken off guard,” she explained.

Gaynor previously tried one-on-one training sessions, but she acknowledges that none of those sessions can be compared to CrossFit.

“In the past, my one-on-one training was good with a lot of repetition and muscle building. However, there is something enthralling with CrossFit that makes you fitter than just regular exercising,” she said.

“To me, fitness is about three S’s: strength, stamina, and stability,” she added.I looked for the three S’s in all exercise programs and even tried one-on-one trainers. Nothing worked for me, until I joined CrossFit,” she said, adding that she wears a WHOOP fitness strap that has also helped her in her fitness journey.

“CrossFit and WHOOP are a huge part of my overall mental and physical health,” she added, noting that she incorporates both when traveling or performing on stage.

“Healthy eating, exercising, and a healthy mind have given me the ability to give 100% to every concert I perform at,” she said.

All photos courtesy of Jesse Cox.