A new kind of fitness class is changing how high school students feel about physical education. It's called Crossfit.  Carleton Place High school was the first in the country to run a program and today, students in the high school heard one powerful message from one of the world's most powerful men. Magnus Ver Magnusson won the world's strongman competition four times.  Ver Magnusson is from Iceland but was in Carleton Place to impart some strong messages to the Carleton Place Crossfit high school students.

They have a lot to learn from the man who powerlifted 400 kilos or 880 pounds at his peak. 

“That’s ridiculous,” says Grade 11 student Kevin Fraser, “he was doing 400 and 500 pounds like it was nothing.”

Ver Magnusson bench-pressed 405 pounds right in front of the kids. 

“He could probably bench-press me,” jokes Grade 12 student Dominic Lafreniere.

Ver Magnusson has made a career being a strongman.  His other strength is sharing what he's learned about being fit.  So, he stopped by the high school to teach these students technique and impress upon them the importance of cross fit training.

"This is so much more fun than going running outside or doing treadmill,” says Ver Magnusson, “it's fun

Crossfit is a mix of powerlifting, strongman and cardio.  Carleton Place High school was the first in the country to introduce it at the high school level.  It's proven hugely popular here.

"We have 180 kids in this program this year,” says Brian Dickie, the teacher who brought Crossfit to Carleton Place High school, “in a school of 600 so it's pretty successful.”

The training is tough.

"Yeah, most people don't choose this course unless they're ready for it,” says student Kevin Fraser.”

But the payoff is big.

Student Dominic Lafreniere says he’s building “a lot more muscle. I lost 5 pounds, working on losing some more weight.”

Grade 10 student Savanna Wood adds she learned that, “I'm stronger than I thought I was and I’m athletic. I learned I can do things.”

And when he's not lifting reporters, Magnus Ver Magnusson is judging strongman competitions.  There's one tomorrow in Carleton Place.  It’s begins at 11.