| Climbing is a physically demanding sport which is part | | | | need a high degree of endurance, flexibility and |
| of its attraction. While pushing yourself to the limit | | | | balance. Increase your stamina by doing cardio longer |
| can be a rewarding challenge, you need to prepare | | | | and harder. Take yoga and Pilates to increase your |
| you body for climbing's strain on your body. There's a | | | | core strength and become more flexible. |
| huge difference between pushing yourself to the limit | | | | Make sure you warm up and stretch just before |
| and causing yourself injury. | | | | your climb. Since you use almost every muscle in |
| First off, make sure you are in good physical | | | | your body, warming up and stretching is even more |
| condition for climbing. You must build strength for | | | | important with climbing than it is in a normal workout. |
| climbing and some areas are more important than | | | | Lengthening your muscles and tendons minimizes |
| others. You'll be using your grip more than in other | | | | your odds of serious injury. If you put strain on your |
| sports as well as your arms to lift the weight of your | | | | body before warming up and stretching, you'll very |
| body. To test your grip, see how long you can hang | | | | likely get an injury such as ligament strain. These are |
| by a bar. Now do over handed pull-ups to see your | | | | not only immediately painful and limit your climbing but |
| shoulder and arm strength. Keeping track of how | | | | it can cause problems later in life. |
| you're doing will show your progress. | | | | A warm up is simply meant to get your heart |
| To increase your gripping ability there are several | | | | pumping to oxygenate the muscle tissue making |
| exercises including wrist curls, free lifts and pull-ups. | | | | them more limber, helping you push them to the limit |
| Also perform wrist rotations to develop and stretch | | | | without injuring yourself. It's suggested you do 10 to |
| forearm muscles. Other major upper body muscle | | | | 5 minutes of aerobic exercise prior to your climb. |
| groups such as your chest and back must also be | | | | Anything more than that will have an adverse effect |
| strengthened since they support your arms. | | | | since you'll be using up your energy for the climb. |
| While gripping is the most important area to physically | | | | While learning skills and gaining experience in climbing is |
| improve, there are other areas that will make your | | | | necessary, you first must be physically able to climb. |
| climb more manageable (or even possible). There are | | | | Increase your strength and endurance to ensure a |
| times when you must reach and pull yourself in odd | | | | successful and rewarding climb. Remember that you |
| positions. This is when abdominal, deltoid, and | | | | will not be experiencing temperatures similar to |
| latissimus dorsi muscle strength is especially beneficial. | | | | Malaga and Javea so prepare accordingly. |
| Overall fitness is very important as well since you'll | | | | |