9 effective ways in which climbing takes your physical condition and skills to another level

Force. Resistance. Sweat in classic style. These are the elements that are the basis of personal development and success, regardless of whether your goals are physical, mental or professional. No matter what your goals are, you will need persistence to make progress.

But achieving the goals means much more than intense training. You also need mental focus, willpower and a close community of like-minded friends who will support you and help you overcome obstacles.
Where can you find all these elements in one place? Well, millions of people from all over the world manage to find them more and more often in indoor climbing halls.

What is indoor climbing?

Climbing is one of the most important trends in physical training, and rightfully so. Climbing is for people of all ages and fitness levels – not just elite athletes with impressive upper body strength – because it's easy to get started.

Because there is no immediate need for pretentious equipment, anyone can go to a local gym and start climbing. Indoor climbing is excellent both for beginners who are looking for a safe place to start, as well as for well-trained climbers who feel the need for new challenges.
So, what exactly can you expect when you go to a climbing gym? You have probably already seen the walls with colored sockets that you can grab onto with your hands and feet to climb up. To climb such a wall, you will need a pair of shoes, a magnesium bag so that your hands don't slip, and a harness, if you are climbing with a rope.

But just because it seems simple to start, does not necessarily mean that it is easy. To successfully reach the top of the wall, your whole body will be put to the test, as well as your mind. You'll get an excellent upper and lower body workout, and each climb will require mental focus and a desire to step out of your comfort zone.
The best part is that you won't be climbing alone. Mountaineers are a supportive community, encouraging each other to reach their goals and tackle the next challenge.

Whether you are a beginner or a climbing veteran, you will find a community of new friends who will climb the wall with you and help you reach your fitness goals.
Need more reasons to climb the first wall? Below are 9 amazing health benefits that you can expect from your first climb.

Physical benefits: Is rock climbing the best workout you've ever done?

When we think about the reasons why we should or should not engage in a particular physical activity, we generally want to know what are its physical benefits. It's normal to be like that, because if you're going to spend time doing a specific activity, then you have to have something to show at the end. And the climb does not disappoint.

Climbing trains your whole body

Climbing a wall trains every muscle in the body and offers, in addition, an excellent cardio workout. Mountaineers burn calories at a rate equivalent to high-intensity activities, such as spinning and resistance training. But unlike other forms of cardiovascular exercise, climbing integrates aerobic exercise and building muscle mass. Which means that every time you climb a wall, you will have a full-body workout. And you won't be bored for a moment!

Climbing builds strength

Unsurprisingly, it takes strength to climb a vertical wall. However, you don't have to worry if you're not a bodybuilder and you don't have a pair of well-defined biceps and shoulders. You will train all your muscle groups simultaneously and every time you climb you will develop your muscles even more. In addition, research suggests that dynamic movements involving multiple muscle groups are more difficult and therefore build muscle strength faster and more efficiently than simple exercises.

Conclusion: you will get a full range of benefits in terms of strength building, without having to hit the gym. Deserve? Fully!
Climbing does not help you, however, only in terms of arms, shoulders and back. It is true that
you will have an excellent training for the upper body area, but you will also need the strength of the trunk to keep you in the position parallel to the wall. Even more so when you improve your skills and start tackling more difficult walls, such as those with angles and overhangs.

Experienced climbers use their legs as much as their arms when climbing. Pushing with your legs while pulling with your arms prevents you from exhausting yourself too quickly and allows you to climb longer distances and for a longer time than if you relied only on your arms.

Climbing improves balance and coordination

In addition to the benefits for the heart and muscles, climbing will also improve your motor skills, balance and coordination. The reason is that moving with various grips for hands and feet requires very careful eye-hand-foot coordination, as well as balance and strength.

You will have to pay attention to your breathing and trunk muscles (which are essential for balance), as well as pay attention to where you are coming from, where you are and where you are going.
In short, climbing is a total body workout that increases your strength from head to toe.

Mental benefits: How does climbing feed your brain?

If you're already super excited about the physical benefits of climbing, we have great news for you. Climbing also offers a lot of mental benefits. When you tackle a new difficult route (or when you re-enter an old one) you train your body and brain at the same time. Here are some of the mental advantages you will enjoy.

Climbing banishes boredom

If you're bored to death running around the neighborhood, or - even worse - running on the treadmill at the gym, you'll love the mental stimulation and challenge that climbing brings.
Every time you climb, you will have to find the solution for a lot of problems (for example, where exactly to put your foot next time) and you will have to create a connection between mind and body.

Also, you will be in a permanent competition with yourself, trying to improve your performance.
Climbing is fun and challenging, and helps you learn to deal with pressure in a supportive and low-risk environment.

Escalation reduces symptoms of depression

The mental aspects of climbing, such as decision-making, planning and concentration, strengthen neural pathways in the brain and can improve overall mental function. Studies show that climbing reduces the symptoms of depression, improves the skills that help you face various situations and reduces anxiety more than other types of physical activity.
Researchers argue that climbers enjoy these benefits because climbing requires greater mental focus. The participants in the studies on this topic felt that they have a superior control over the results when they manage to face the challenges of the climb.

Climbing helps you overcome the fear of failure

Worried about your next project or test? Are you afraid that you could make a laughing stock in front of your colleagues or make a mistake in your career? Climbing can help you in this regard too!
It's normal to be afraid of falling when you approach a vertical wall for the first time, but often the fact that you finish the experience helps you get rid of the fear. Because you are in a safe environment, falling can be a learning experience and not a catastrophic failure. By overcoming this fear, you will be willing to try new strategies, take risks and always launch new challenges.

Social benefits: Climbing is also beneficial for social life

Are you tired of sneaking in your social life in your free time? Does it frustrate you that you can't find a group to feel good with, when you finally manage to find some time to relax? Forget bars and parties! Thousands of people from all over the world have found their social niche in climbing halls. Why wouldn't you do the same? Here's how climbing can help you.

Climbing helps you to be more sociable

If you're looking for a way to meet people but you're tired of bars, climbing can be the social opportunity you're looking for. Unlike more competitive sports or gyms, climbing promotes collaboration and conversation.
When you tackle new challenges, you will have people with you who will be willing to help you if you are in trouble. And if you like competition, you will also find this aspect in the climbing hall, but for good purposes!
And who knows? Maybe you will find yourself going out for a coffee or a drink, after training, with a group of colleagues from the gym.

You find your gang

Escalada introduces you to a rich and diverse community of like-minded people who will help you achieve your goals and cheer you on when you succeed. This community is most of the time extremely well-welded and always offers you support. When you watch other people overcome their fears, tackle new challenges and achieve their goals, you will be happy with them, and they will be with you in the successes you will have, too.

Climbing veterans say that the way you feel this experience and enjoy it depends a lot on finding the right people. Therefore, it is worth getting to know the people who climb with you!

Climbing helps you have fun

There is no doubt that it is much more fun to take your group of friends and go climbing than to go out for a drink. Shared experiences and common goals are the basis of long-lasting friendships. When you climb, you also enjoy the benefit of supporting each other to always reach further and to exceed your limits.
It is an experience that gives you strength and there are always new options to try and new challenges to overcome.

If you have never thought of taking up indoor climbing, take it as a personal challenge and always try something new! Dare to get out of your comfort zone and you will see that you will always return to the gym.