It’s time to step out of your comfort zone and try out an activity that you never thought you would — rock climbing. While you might think this sport is dangerous, rock climbing actually does more good than harm and has proven to provide the body and mind with a number of benefits that might make you want to start climbing ASAP.
Whether you engage in indoor or outdoor rock climbing, both types of environment will promote strength and give you the full body workout you’ve been looking for. Besides promoting physical health, rock climbing also boosts mental health and builds confidence in the climber.
If you have never participated in any type of rock climbing activity before, it’s not too late to start now. There are plenty of indoor rock climbing centers that will get you up and climbing in no time, and keep you safe as you improve your skills.
Benefits of Rock Climbing
If you’re still not ready to sign up for rock climbing just yet, the following benefits might convince you why you should engage in this fun activity.
1. Burns Calories
Yes, it is possible to burn a ton of calories while having lots of fun! Depending on your metabolic rate and your weight, an hour of intense rock climbing can burn about 500 to 900 calories.
Climbing a few times a week provides for a full body workout and puts all your muscles to work as you navigate through the steep climb.
2. Strengthens and Tones Muscles
Your abs, obliques, delts, traps, biceps, lats, quads, calves, shoulders, arms — all are engaged during your rock climbing session. You will notice a lower body fat percentage and a stronger grip from practicing rock climbing regularly.
3. Cardio Workout
The intense workout provides a cardio boost and gets your heart rate up in the process. Using your upper body strength to lift you up and engaging the core and lower body to climb helps to build muscle and enhances stamina in the long run.
As you work towards maintaining balance and navigate your body through the course, you put your body through a cardio workout that will do wonders for your heart and body.
4. Improves Flexibility
Rock climbing puts your mobility to test. The activity requires you to reach, leap, and climb to different points, which eventually has you push past your comfort zone.
The continuous practice of rock climbing boosts flexibility and helps the muscles improve their range of motion from the intense movements required during rock climbing.
5. Reduces Stress
Like most exercises, rock climbing can help reduce feelings of depression and improve your mood to fight stress and anxiety.
The meditative effects that come with rock climbing can help to ease the tension and allow you to focus on the fun course ahead of you rather than dwell on what’s causing you stress.
6. Promotes Ambition
Once rock climbing has become a part of your routine, you are constantly going to want to switch things up and look for a more challenging courses to participate in.
This ambition and competitive spirit will drive you to reach your goals and set new goals for yourself that will encourage you to advance in other parts of your life as well.
7. Builds Confidence
Mastering different rock climbing courses gives the individual a sense of accomplishment and boosts self-esteem and confidence in the process.
The feeling of successfully completing a challenge can make one feel very good about him or herself, and this feeling can carry over to their day-to-day life.
Are You Convinced Yet?
With all the advantages that come with rock climbing, why wouldn’t you want to add this activity to your fitness routine in the future?
Before you start engaging in intense climbs, consult an expert to guide you through the exercise in a safe center that will allow you to make mistakes as you improve your rock climbing skills.
Quick FAQs
1. How many calories can you burn from indoor rock climbing?
Depending on your weight and metabolism, you can burn about 500 – 900 calories per hour of rock climbing.
The content of this Website is for is for informational purposes only, is general in nature and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and does not constitute professional advice. The information on this Website should not be considered as complete and does not cover all diseases, ailments, physical conditions, or their treatment. You should consult with your physician before beginning any exercise, weight loss, or health care program and/or any of the beauty treatments.
References:
Health Fitness Revolution. (2018, February 07). Top 10 Health Benefits of Rock Climbing. Retrieved from http://www.healthfitnessrevolution.com/top-10-health-benefits-rock-climbing/
The Exercise Benefits of Rock Climbing / Fitness / Exercises. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/fitness/exercises/the-exercise-benefits-of-rock-climbing.html
20 Inspiring Benefits of Climbing That Will Rock Your World. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://coolofthewild.com/pursuits/benefits-of-climbing
