As a person who just started climbing 5 months ago, I discovered quite a few joys to indoor rock climbing.
1. The exhilaration of reaching the top
The sheer joy of reaching the top of 35 foot or a 60 foot (~10meters or 18 meters) wall and looking down to realize how far you've come up is just amazing.
2. Building self confidence
The pride you feel for yourself when you reach the top of a difficult route or complete an easier one in lesser time is stunning. It's helped me with self confidence issues I faced and it's made me open to trying newer things.
I recently belayed a Senior who was afraid of heights and was climbing for the first time. He wasn't too sure of himself, but after reaching the top of that wall, the smile on his face is one that I'm not going to forget in a long time.
3. It's a fantastic workout
Climbing is probably one of the best workouts I've experienced. A lot of people assume that it requires immense amounts of upper body strength, and while some upper body strength is required, a lot of the work comes down to the legs. Learn to push yourself up using the strength in your legs rather than pull yourself. Downclimbing is another very fun form of workout because it supposedly works out the muscles you might have missed while climbing upwards.
4. Everyone always wants to help
Maybe it's just the atmosphere at Purdue, but people who rock climb tend to be a rather social bunch. They'll laugh with you, talk to you and throw suggestions at you when you get stuck while climbing.
Today I had the most wonderful experience when two spectators were cheering me on from the first floor of the gym as I climbed the last 5.9 I had to cover. That support actually motivated me to finish the entire route.
5. It's more than just a physical sport.
I've talked about the exhilaration, but the process of rock climbing is not just physical, there's a lot of mind work that goes into it too. You have to plan out a route that would help you reach the top faster or more efficiently. The first time you climb a route will never be the same as the next time you climb the same route. There's always a different way to approach the same route.
Rock climbing has become an addiction to me. Each time I try a new route, I try to find a way to do it faster. There's still lots I have to learn about it and lots to improve, but I can only say I am so thankful to have a found something I feel so passionate about.
The sheer joy of reaching the top of 35 foot or a 60 foot (~10meters or 18 meters) wall and looking down to realize how far you've come up is just amazing.
2. Building self confidence
The pride you feel for yourself when you reach the top of a difficult route or complete an easier one in lesser time is stunning. It's helped me with self confidence issues I faced and it's made me open to trying newer things.
I recently belayed a Senior who was afraid of heights and was climbing for the first time. He wasn't too sure of himself, but after reaching the top of that wall, the smile on his face is one that I'm not going to forget in a long time.
3. It's a fantastic workout
Climbing is probably one of the best workouts I've experienced. A lot of people assume that it requires immense amounts of upper body strength, and while some upper body strength is required, a lot of the work comes down to the legs. Learn to push yourself up using the strength in your legs rather than pull yourself. Downclimbing is another very fun form of workout because it supposedly works out the muscles you might have missed while climbing upwards.
4. Everyone always wants to help
Maybe it's just the atmosphere at Purdue, but people who rock climb tend to be a rather social bunch. They'll laugh with you, talk to you and throw suggestions at you when you get stuck while climbing.
Today I had the most wonderful experience when two spectators were cheering me on from the first floor of the gym as I climbed the last 5.9 I had to cover. That support actually motivated me to finish the entire route.
5. It's more than just a physical sport.
I've talked about the exhilaration, but the process of rock climbing is not just physical, there's a lot of mind work that goes into it too. You have to plan out a route that would help you reach the top faster or more efficiently. The first time you climb a route will never be the same as the next time you climb the same route. There's always a different way to approach the same route.
Rock climbing has become an addiction to me. Each time I try a new route, I try to find a way to do it faster. There's still lots I have to learn about it and lots to improve, but I can only say I am so thankful to have a found something I feel so passionate about.
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