Climb to fitness

We are always looking for new and different ways to get ourselves fit and one of the latest and increasingly popular trends is to take up rock climbing. This may well have to do with the growing number of indoor climbing walls as it does tend to be the hardier and more dedicated types that head outdoors for the sport.

With the re-opening of the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena at Ratho, the world’s biggest indoor climbing centre, the sport has certainly taken off in the area.

It is a sport that offers both a physical and mental challenge and everyone can do it. Kids get an awful lot of fun as well as activity from it and that probably goes for the adults too. It is a great exercise alternative when you are looking for something different.

Indoor climbing centres offer the challenges of climbing that you’ll find on natural outdoor structures but indoors. Indoor and outdoor climbing do differ but the strength, endurance, power, flexibility, and skill gained through indoor climbing will definitely aid you in an outdoor climb. Indoor climbing is also available when the weather makes outdoor pursuits inaccessible during the winter months. Climbs can vary in length and difficulty both indoors and outdoors.

Rock climbing is a multi-dimensional sport from a fitness perspective. The activity requires strength and flexibility as well as a high degree of endurance and skill. It also offers a balance between physical exercise and mental discipline. Many climbers feel they gain in self-confidence and independence as well as gaining in physical fitness.

Climbers will quickly begin to develop arm, back, finger, and core strength as a result of the many reaches and holds that are repeated over and over through the completion of one climb. In order to be able to manage harder climbs, you have to improve the strength and endurance of your calves, shoulders, and core; your agility; strength-to-weight ratio; and flexibility in hips and hamstrings.

There are five components of physical fitness and rock climbing addresses four of them, namely: muscular strength, muscular endurance, body composition and flexibility.

For children, you will find that they won’t need much persuasion as children love to climb. They are natural climbers and by setting them off on a climbing wall you can help them channel this skill and energy into something that will develop their self-confidence, establish cooperation between each other and provide them with a way of exercising that they find fun.
The Edinburgh International Climbing Arena at Ratho is built around the stunning natural rock face of a disused quarry with three large walls, over 250 routes and somewhere around 15000 holds in the arena. Add to that a purpose-built bouldering room and a further three boulders in the arena and there is plenty to climb for even the most experienced climber.

Also in the arena there’s abseiling and the Aerial Assault course suspended 100 feet above the arena floor.
For smaller climbers, there is a climbing-themed soft play area and if you love the idea but are afraid of heights, the ‘bouldering’ area offers a form of climbing that involves moving across a low wall.

There are more and more facilities being built so if the EICA is not near enough, there will be plenty more to choose from around the country. Just track down you local indoor centre and get climbing. You will soon see your fitness levels increasing and it can be a sport for all the family.

And who knows, you may become so proficient that you want to head outdoors and try a real rock surface.

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