| Once an activity labeled as an "extreme sport", rock | | | | enthusiast who is looking for a fun way to workout |
| climbing has in the last few years become a very | | | | or have some recreation, and beginner classes |
| popular workout activity as the use of indoor climbing | | | | abound. The look and feel of the facilities is usually |
| walls in fitness facilities, community centers and health | | | | very family friendly. Birthday parties and social events |
| clubs has increased and made the sport much more | | | | for kids, corporate outing and team building for adults |
| user friendly. Not only can it be fun and exciting, rock | | | | as well as family recreation outings make up a huge |
| climbing is one of the most effective strength training | | | | percentage of the business for climbing walls |
| workouts a person can ever have, providing fitness | | | | nowadays. A first time visitor will be greeted by an |
| and strength benefits that are difficult to match with | | | | enthusiastic staff wearing matching t-shirts and |
| any other single activity. If you want to work out | | | | typically watch a safety video that gives an |
| every muscle in your body in the shortest amount of | | | | overview of the procedures of the facility. Then in a |
| time possible and get quick results in strength, body | | | | small group or individually, they are led out to |
| shape, toning and muscular endurance, there is no | | | | attempt a few climbs before they are cleared to use |
| better thing to do. It burns a tremendous amount of | | | | the place on their own. The extensive orientation I |
| calories as well, assisting with weight or fat loss. And | | | | received at The Vertical Club is mostly a thing of the |
| did I mention that it is fun? Participants sometimes | | | | past. The equipment and safety set up is much |
| have such a blast that they even forget to feel tired! | | | | easier for the average person to learn, which gets |
| Around twenty years ago, the very first climbing | | | | them climbing and having fun sooner. This has greatly |
| gyms started appearing around the United States. | | | | increased the number of people who participate in |
| One of the first was The Vertical Club in Seattle, | | | | climbing and has led to the serious climbers that I |
| Washington, and that is where I first took a lesson | | | | saw on my first trip to The Vertical Club frequently |
| and learned to climb. My experience walking in there | | | | being the minority in the gym at any given time. |
| in 1993 was TOTALLY different than a new climber | | | | Getting your exercise while climbing indoors usually |
| would have walking into the average climbing facility | | | | involves you making your way from the floor toward |
| now. Back then, climbing gyms were primarily the | | | | the ceiling of the facility using plastic holds for your |
| domain of serious rock climbers who needed a way | | | | hands and feet that have the same look and feel as |
| to stay in shape during the bad weather months or in | | | | real rock. These are attached to a wall that is |
| between trips to outdoor climbing locations. Climbing | | | | textured to resemble a real cliff face. As you make |
| as a general fitness activity hadn't arrived yet. | | | | your way to the top, a cable attached to an |
| When I entered the facility that day, I was first | | | | automatic belay device or a rope attached to your |
| greeted by a man on crutches who told me he had | | | | partner and tied to your safety harness that you |
| just broken his ankle in an outdoor climbing fall. He | | | | wear keeps you safe from a fall. Most indoor facilities |
| seemed pretty intense. There were several men | | | | have walls for roped climbing that go up to about 30 |
| climbing near the front without shirts on, their bodies | | | | feet in height, though some in the United States go |
| seemingly made of nothing but muscle and sinew. | | | | from 60 to 90 feet. Most facilities also have a version |
| One of them was attempting a climbing move just a | | | | of climbing called bouldering where the climber is not |
| few feet off the ground right in front of his buddies, | | | | roped but never climbs more than 10-15 feet off the |
| who stood no more than arms reach from him, | | | | ground, protecting against a fall with large gymnastics |
| shouting him encouragement and prepared to break | | | | pads moved around on the floor underneath. Snug |
| his fall if he came off the wall. He was exerting | | | | fitting climbing shoes with specially made rubber soles |
| himself fully while trying the move, and I was struck | | | | are worn for incredible grip against the footholds. |
| by his effort, while all he had to do was literally put | | | | Indoor rock climbing requires exactly the same |
| his foot down and he would have been standing | | | | fitness and muscle strength and enduranace demands |
| directly on the ground. | | | | as doing it outdoors. And the benefits are awesome! |
| I felt somewhat intimidated by the atmosphere. The | | | | Unlike traditional weight training which involves lifting |
| place was definitely filled with people who climbed | | | | weight in a controlled movement in a gym or home |
| seriously, and at that time I was definitely someone | | | | setting, rock climbing is "strength training with a |
| who did not. I was glad I was there to take an actual | | | | twist": you as the climber are now the weight going |
| lesson because I would have absolutely no idea how | | | | up or down and rather than an arbitrary number of |
| to start for myself. My teacher was the owner of | | | | repetitions to be performed to complete a set, the |
| the club, and he was very friendly and helpful. It was | | | | goal of climbing is to get to the top of the wall. It |
| almost like having my own personal trainer. By the | | | | doesn't matter how it is accomplished, either. Climbing |
| end of the 2 hour lesson I knew my way around the | | | | doesn't have to look pretty to be effective. The |
| gym and the equipment and knew how to belay | | | | result is a change of focus away from the effort of |
| another climber and tie myself into the rope for | | | | repetitions to the effort of working toward the |
| safety. And I had climbed from the bottom of the | | | | immediately achievable goal of reaching the top. This |
| walls to the top several times successfully. I was | | | | can result in a very empowering feeling of |
| officially a climber, albeit a very enthusiastic beginner. | | | | accomplishment for the climber, because each trip up |
| In the present day, a first trip to a climbing facility | | | | the wall holds a challenge that can be overcome and |
| for a beginner will be a completely different | | | | a goal that is achieved. This is what has been known |
| experience. There are many more climbing gyms | | | | to be addicting and can lead you to want to do |
| around, and like I mentioned above, many fitness | | | | more. And when you want to do more, you will keep |
| centers and health clubs have climbing walls now. | | | | doing it. And that is the biggest secret for long term |
| These climbing gyms and fitness center walls are | | | | success in fitness: keep doing it! It is amazing what |
| used much more now by the average fitness | | | | consistency can accomplish. |