Hey there! I'm Katie from These Are The Days - my husband, Devin and I are here to talk to you today about one of our favorite things to do: Rock Climbing!
It may come as a surprise to some people that rock climbing is actually extremely beneficial for your health, on multiple levels - that is, if it's done correctly!
Boring stuff first: the absolute most important thing to remember is that rock climbing is a dangerous sport, so it is essential that you get proper training and practice safety as you climb! If you're local to Utah, we highly recommend climbing at Momentum Indoor Climbing Gym (in Sandy) seeing as how Devin works there and all! The staff is amazing, helpful, and new climbers are always welcome and encouraged! Momentum is an awesome place to learn how to climb if you don't already know someone with the experience to teach you.
Like I said before, rock climbing is a great way to get in shape, stay in shape, and what's more, it's an awesome social activity. For starters? Climbing is heart-healthy. And by that I mean, it helps improve your cardiovascular system by stressing your heart (in a good way!) - it gets the blood pumping, and makes your heart stronger!
Rock climbing can also contribute to healthy weight loss! I think I read somewhere once that 1 pound = 3500 calories (just double-checked. I read right.), which means to lose 1 pound a week, you need to eliminate 500 calories each day. And guess what? Climbing at a "moderate intensity" for about 1 hour, burns 400! That means you spend some time at the gym, skip your daily can of soda, and you're there!
The most obvious benefit of rock climbing, I think, is toning and muscle building. Rock climbing is a progressive sport, so the better you get, the stronger you get, and the harder stuff you can climb! Climbing at those harder levels, and even as you're working your way up, requires a lot of strength, and a lot of that strength comes from your fingers, but it also counts where your arms, legs, and core are concerned! Climbing targets all of those main muscle groups in one total body work out! (plus, if you're asking me, it's a lot more fun than running on a treadmill!)
More awesome things about rock climbing: what some people don't know about climbing is that it is actually a very technical sport. You aren't just pushing off rocks to get to the top of a wall, there is a sequence to follow - so rock climbing requires a lot of mental (and physical) focus. Now, this is important. It's easy to "plateau" in rock climbing if you let the mental part of it get the best of you! But as long as you have the right mental control, it's an awesome way to involve your mind while you exercise, and it helps increase your hand-eye coordination. Rock climbing is a sport where you can constantly challenge yourself and improve.
Oh, don't worry, we're not even done. Rock climbing is one of the best ways to increase your endurance! Walls in a climbing gym are typically anywhere from 30-60 feet tall - which doesn't seem like much, but when you're spending every inch of those feet pushing yourself mentally, and physically, it can seem much longer! Building up endurance is probably one of the most immediate benefits you'll notice if you start climbing regularly, which doesn't just benefit your improvement in climbing, it can help you last longer in other exercises (that is, if you even care for them anymore, now that you've found your new love for climbing!)
Okay, okay I'm almost done. Mostly because I know I've already convinced you to give it a try. But there's even more good that can come from tying into a rope and climbing up a wall. Climbing increases your FLEXIBILITY, BALANCE and COORDINATION! Just think about it! Am I right? I am.
And lastly, rock climbing is awesome because it is a sport that you can do rain or shine, inside or outside. And there are even different kinds of climbing:
1. You can boulder, which is done on much shorter walls, without a harness.
2. You can top-rope, which is the normal kind that most people begin with - the kind you probably think of when you think of rock climbing.
3. And when you become more experienced, you can lead climb!
Climbing is a sport that anyone can do, at any age! If you have any questions, click here and ask us!
**Isn't she great? If you are interested in guest posting on YOUR area of fitness expertise shoot me a email!**
Rock climbing is an exhilarating sport and one that is growing in popularity. Today, people of all ages are taking up this fun but physically demanding activity.
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