Joys of Rock Climbing

When climbing, it is important to build strength that can match the difficulties of the climb being undertaken. The legs need to be able to support the body as well as be flexible enough to reach the needed footholds to continue with the climb. For rock climbing, overly large muscles and extra weight are not the climbers ally. Instead, having strength and flexibility is needed, but bulking up like a body builder is not the goal. Make sure to include stretches for the legs to improve flexibility as well as exercises that will build muscle.

Rock climbing in Ashville, North Carolina is a great way to spend the afternoon or even a weekend. Being in contact with the great outdoors helps many people to feel rejuvenated and experience the relaxation that is needed in order to unwind from the stresses of everyday life. However, rock climbing is a sport that requires physical training in order to improve performance and increase the ease and pleasantness of participating in it. For beginners, one of the best places to gather the needed experience and training is at a rock climbing gym. In order to assure better progress, it is a good idea to find a partner who will join in on the practice sessions. Rock climbing can be a very social sport which many who enjoy the sport find to be an important draw to continued participation. Also find a gym that has knowledgeable staff who seem willing to answer questions and assist the climbers in improving their skills when needed.

The arms are almost in constant use when rock climbing. A climber’s ability to have a good grip is the most important part. It is a good idea to have a squeeze ball that is easy to carry around and can be accessed when needed. Completing multiple sessions a day with the squeeze ball will help improve the grip and help strengthen the forearms. These are the next most important part when climbing. On more difficult climbs, the ability for a person to keep a grip while in a static hang from a rock is important. A climber needs to know their capacity for a static hang before going on a climb that requires it. Finding a chin up bar or using the monkey bars at a local playground is a good source to hang from. Simply hang from the bar for as long as possible in order to find out what the capacity is for the static hang state.

Shoulders and the core muscles are incredibly important for climbers. The legs can be a great support system during a climb and in order for them to communicate this support adequately and help balance the strain on the arms, the core muscles must be in good condition. Similarly, the shoulders are key in being able to lock in holds while reaching for the next grip and like the legs, shoulder rotations and flexibility is as important as strength. Purposely building muscles in the shoulders, core, forearms and grip are the most important portions of the body to have adequate strength and stamina.

One of the most appealing aspects of rock climbing is implementing the eight foot bubble rule. It can take a lot of practice for new climbers to adequately employ the eight foot bubble rule because it involves making the mind clear of all outside distractions. For a rock climber, the focus of concentration is best kept on anything within an eight foot bubble of area around them when they are physically making the climb. Anything outside that bubble is often a distraction and can impede the climb. This includes concerns about work or any other stresses that may be a factor in daily living. This is one of the main reasons why rock climbing is such an effective activity for achieving the relaxed rejuvenation that many people seek.