Experience the adventure of mountain climbing


Indoor Rock Climbing for Fitness: It's Not Extreme Anymore

Once an activity labeled as an "extremeenthusiast who is looking for a fun way to
sport", rock climbing has in the last fewworkout or have some recreation, and beginner
years become a very popular workout activityclasses abound. The look and feel of the
as the use of indoor climbing walls infacilities is usually very family friendly.
fitness facilities, community centers andBirthday parties and social events for kids,
health clubs has increased and made the sportcorporate outing and team building for adults
much more user friendly. Not only can it beas well as family recreation outings make up
fun and exciting, rock climbing is one of thea huge percentage of the business for
most effective strength training workouts aclimbing walls nowadays. A first time
person can ever have, providing fitness andvisitor will be greeted by an enthusiastic
strength benefits that are difficult to matchstaff wearing matching t-shirts and typically
with any other single activity. If you wantwatch a safety video that gives an overview
to work out every muscle in your body in theof the procedures of the facility. Then in a
shortest amount of time possible and getsmall group or individually, they are led out
quick results in strength, body shape, toningto attempt a few climbs before they are
and muscular endurance, there is no bettercleared to use the place on their own. The
thing to do. It burns a tremendous amount ofextensive orientation I received at The
calories as well, assisting with weight orVertical Club is mostly a thing of the past.
fat loss. And did I mention that it is fun?The equipment and safety set up is much
Participants sometimes have such a blast thateasier for the average person to learn, which
they even forget to feel tired! Around twentygets them climbing and having fun sooner.
years ago, the very first climbing gymsThis has greatly increased the number of
started appearing around the United States.people who participate in climbing and has
One of the first was The Vertical Club inled to the serious climbers that I saw on my
Seattle, Washington, and that is where Ifirst trip to The Vertical Club frequently
first took a lesson and learned to climb. Mybeing the minority in the gym at any given
experience walking in there in 1993 wastime.
TOTALLY different than a new climber would
have walking into the average climbingGetting your exercise while climbing indoors
facility now. Back then, climbing gyms wereusually involves you making your way from the
primarily the domain of serious rock climbersfloor toward the ceiling of the facility
who needed a way to stay in shape during theusing plastic holds for your hands and feet
bad weather months or in between trips tothat have the same look and feel as real
outdoor climbing locations. Climbing as arock. These are attached to a wall that is
general  fitness activity hadn't arrived yet.textured to resemble a real cliff face. As
you make your way to the top, a cable
When I entered the facility that day, I wasattached to an automatic belay device or a
first greeted by a man on crutches who toldrope attached to your partner and tied to
me he had just broken his ankle in an outdooryour safety harness that you wear keeps you
climbing fall. He seemed pretty intense.safe from a fall. Most indoor facilities have
There were several men climbing near thewalls for roped climbing that go up to about
front without shirts on, their bodies30 feet in height, though some in the United
seemingly made of nothing but muscle andStates go from 60 to 90 feet. Most facilities
sinew. One of them was attempting a climbingalso have a version of climbing called
move just a few feet off the ground right inbouldering where the climber is not roped but
front of his buddies, who stood no more thannever climbs more than 10-15 feet off the
arms reach from him, shouting himground, protecting against a fall with large
encouragement and prepared to break his fallgymnastics pads moved around on the floor
if he came off the wall. He was exertingunderneath. Snug fitting climbing shoes with
himself fully while trying the move, and Ispecially made rubber soles are worn for
was struck by his effort, while all he had toincredible  grip  against  the  footholds.
do was literally put his foot down and he
would have been standing directly on theIndoor rock climbing requires exactly the
ground.same fitness and muscle strength and
enduranace demands as doing it outdoors. And
I felt somewhat intimidated by thethe benefits are awesome! Unlike traditional
atmosphere. The place was definitely filledweight training which involves lifting weight
with people who climbed seriously, and atin a controlled movement in a gym or home
that time I was definitely someone who didsetting, rock climbing is "strength training
not. I was glad I was there to take anwith a twist": you as the climber are now the
actual lesson because I would have absolutelyweight going up or down and rather than an
no idea how to start for myself. My teacherarbitrary number of repetitions to be
was the owner of the club, and he was veryperformed to complete a set, the goal of
friendly and helpful. It was almost likeclimbing is to get to the top of the wall.
having my own personal trainer. By the end ofIt doesn't matter how it is accomplished,
the 2 hour lesson I knew my way around theeither. Climbing doesn't have to look pretty
gym and the equipment and knew how to belayto be effective. The result is a change of
another climber and tie myself into the ropefocus away from the effort of repetitions to
for safety. And I had climbed from thethe effort of working toward the immediately
bottom of the walls to the top several timesachievable goal of reaching the top. This can
successfully. I was officially a climber,result in a very empowering feeling of
albeit  a  very  enthusiastic  beginner.accomplishment for the climber, because each
trip up the wall holds a challenge that can
In the present day, a first trip to abe overcome and a goal that is achieved.
climbing facility for a beginner will be aThis is what has been known to be addicting
completely different experience. There areand can lead you to want to do more. And
many more climbing gyms around, and like Iwhen you want to do more, you will keep doing
mentioned above, many fitness centers andit. And that is the biggest secret for long
health clubs have climbing walls now. Theseterm success in fitness: keep doing it! It
climbing gyms and fitness center walls areis amazing what consistency can accomplish.
used much more now by the average fitness



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