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