Even the biggest fitness fanatic sometimes runs into an issue at the gym. It’s called boredom, and it’s very real. Indoor rock climbing is a great way to make fitness more fun and engaging. But then again, the most intense rock climbers have a problem at times. They need a traditional gym to develop the strength and endurance to reach new heights.
Method Climbing + Fitness sees the value in both types of gyms and combines an indoor rock climbing gym with a fitness facility to create a powerful pairing. Check out more ways these two kinds of facilities make for a dynamic duo!
Indoor Rock Climbing Is An Amazing Fitness Option
If you’ve ever tried to climb anything, even just over a log on a trail, you know that climbing is a form of exercise. Your cardiovascular system is engaged, your muscles work, you have to utilize flexibility, and more. It’s no surprise, then, that rock climbing is actually a workout.
Rock climbing counts as a cardio workout because…
- Rock climbing gives you slightly more steps per minute than running a 10-minute mile
- On average, people burn 298 calories for every 30 minutes of rappelling while climbing
- Heart rate and energy spent rock climbing is similar to running at 8-11 miles per minute
Cardio activities, like rock climbing, benefit the heart, contribute to preventing certain diseases like type 2 diabetes, increase endurance, and more. Add in that rock climbing is also a form of strength training, and the benefits increase to include building stronger muscles, improving bone strength, and enhancing flexibility.
Ultimately, rock climbing is a full-body workout, so there are full-body benefits. Even your mental health is rewarded!
Why a Fitness Facility is Important for Rock Climbing
So you know rock climbing is good for you and counts as a serious fitness activity. Why bother with a traditional gym, then? If you want to be a great climber and advance to tackling harder routes on the wall or on real boulders outdoors, you need to do some more typical exercises, too.
Even famous, competitive rock climbers hit the gym to use cardio and weight lifting machines. For instance, climber Lynn Hill is known for her free climb of “the nose,” an intrepid cliff face in the Yosemite Valley floor. She says she trains through functional fitness, including pull-ups. Hill focuses on her form and on core strength.
Some of the top fitness facility equipment recommended for climbers’ use includes:
- Cable machines
- Rowing machines
- Swiss balls or kettlebells
- Cardio machines like treadmills or stationary bikes
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Both Parts of the Power Pairing
If you’re a gym-goer who gets bored, is stuck in a rut and wants to take fitness to the next level, or just wants to throw in a little adventure here and there, it’s handy to have the indoor rock climbing gym so readily available. For those who are climbers or aspire to be, access to the traditional gym is a must!
Make the most of both facilities:
- Alternate days so you train for climbing one day and practice climbing the next
- Join exercise classes to enjoy how fun all sorts of fitness activities can be
- Ask fellow climbers to train in the gym with you, or use your gym days to get some “me-time” if you’re a social climber who also needs space to focus
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