Driving you up the wall!
CLIMBING AS A SPORT IS GAINING GROUND, NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT IS AN OLYMPIC SPORT NOW, BUT ALSO BECAUSE IT OFFERS PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS
Grammy Award-winner Will Smith climbed to the top of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai as a part of his new YouTube series titled Best Shape of My Life, documenting his weight loss journey. The Oscar-nominated actor used the tower’s 2,909 stairs (160 floors) to complete a cardio workout, finishing with a climb to the top of the iconic building’s spire.
Akshay Kumar climbs trees or a specially designed 30-foot indoor climbing wall. Actress Kristen Bell stays fit by going rock climbing with her family in Malibu. Ishaan Khatter shared a video on Instagram showing him rock climbing.
Sport climbing, or climbing indoors in special gyms, is becoming increasingly popular after it was named an Olympic sport.
“Indoor climbing has boomed over the past few years and now many people use climbing walls to stay fit, meet friends and train. Many people don’t climb outdoors now, they use the walls as a vertical gym. Climbing has become super cool! It was featured in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics for the first time, and is going to become huge and in demand,” says Zaineb Ali, certified Pilates instructor.
TOTAL WORKOUT
“Climbing is an activity which combines all the 3 aspects — strength training, cardiovascular endurance and flexibility with strength — into one training mode, keeping training effective and yet exciting,” says Linsay D’Souza of Gold’s Gym India.
As most jobs are sedentary, climbing serves as a welcome change because it is a total body workout. “Climbing strengthens the muscles in the back, abdomen, quadriceps and glutes, thereby not just improving muscle tone but also posture, and preventing common lower back pain such as sciatica. It is a great form of cardio because it burns a lot of calories and improves the functioning of the heart and lungs, preventing obesity and coronary heart disease. It also improves balance and flexibility and keeps your body limber,” says Linsay. “Climbing also strengthens muscles in the forearms and fingers, improves grip and prevents carpel tunnel syndrome, a common complaint,” he adds. Climbing uses many different parts of the body. “Most
THE BEST PLACE TO START IS AT THE CLIMBING GYM. IT TAKES ABOUT 2-3 MONTHS TO UNDERSTAND MOVEMENTS CORRECTLY. CLIMBERS GENERALLY ENGAGE IN THE ACTIVITY 2-3 DAYS A WEEK AND DO ONE DAY OF CONDITIONING WORKOUT IN A WEEK
upward movement comes from pushing with your legs. The upper body and arms are used to pull, push, and balance your way up the wall. The back, biceps and core are used heavily. With indoor climbing you will get both aerobic and
anaerobic exercise while improving balance and coordination. You will burn 500 to 700 calories per hour and work both strength and endurance simultaneously,” says Zaineb .
— RANGA VUTUKURU, PRESIDENT, TESCA (TELANGANA SPORT CLIMBING ASSOCIATION)
FEED YOUR BRAIN
Climbing also offers a mental workout, as it involves planning and anticipating moves. It is known to reduce stress. “Climbing has several mental benefits, including boosting problem-solving skills and determination, reducing depression and improving selfconfidence and concentration,” Linsay points out. “Though while climbing you are competing with yourself, it is generally done with friends. Hence each person has fun while getting opportunities to support, assist and guide others, which helps build trust and leadership skills,” she adds.
ADRENALINE RUSH
“Outdoor rock climbing requires special shoes, harnesses, clips and a helmet, but it is a great opportunity to connect with nature, explore new places and give you an adrenaline rush. Indoor climbing on the other hand does not require any specialised gear, hence the cost involved is relatively low, while it allows you to experience the same physical, mental and social benefits,” according to Linsay. Men and women can be equally good at it, she says, and stresses that it is a misconception that climbing requires exceptional strength.
SOCIAL CLIMBERS
Climbing appeals to people of all ages and skill levels and is a healthy option for children who are not interested in traditional team sports. “Climbing gyms are venues for social interaction with like-minded people. It’s a place for building trust, camaraderie and self-confidence,” says Zaineb.
HOW TO START
You don’t need to be a great athlete to get started on climbing. “The best place to start is at the climbing gym. It takes about 2-3 months to understand movements correctly. Climbers generally engage in the activity 2-3 days a week and do one day of conditioning workout in a week,” says Ranga Vutukuru, President, TeSCA (Telangana Sport Climbing Association).
“All they need is a pair of good climbing shoes. They can be rented, but regular climbing warrants one’s own pair. Everything else is provided by climbing gyms,” he adds.
INDOOR CLIMBING HAS BOOMED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS AND NOW MANY PEOPLE USE CLIMBING WALLS TO STAY FIT, MEET FRIENDS AND TRAIN. MANY PEOPLE DON’T CLIMB OUTDOORS NOW, THEY USE THE WALLS AS A VERTICAL GYM. CLIMBING HAS BECOME SUPER COOL! IT WAS FEATURED IN THE 2020 TOKYO OLYMPICS FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND IS GOING TO BECOME HUGE AND IN DEMAND — ZAINEB ALI, CERTIFIED PILATES INSTRUCTOR