PEAK MENTAL HEALTH
Rise above the stresses of modern life. Regular climbing has now been proven to scale back depression and stop you from hitting rock bottom
How a weekly session on the climbing wall can keep your mood at an all-time high
The brain-body connection is well documented. And to say that exercise can make you feel good would be undeniably trite. But choose your workout wisely and you can enjoy far more than a temporary mood boost. According to research from the University of Arizona, proprioceptive activities – those that require awareness of your body’s position in space – are clinically proven to curb depression.
In particular, bouldering (that’s rock climbing without a safety harness) has been hailed as highly effective at countering dark moods. Researchers found that subjects who did three hours a week for eight weeks experienced a notable reduction in their depression symptoms from moderate to mild.
How so? Well, one explanation is that when fighting gravity with your fingertips, there’s little room for self-reflection – which, when you’re 5m up, is credible. As well as the mood-lifting release of endorphins you’d expect from any intense exercise, your everyday anxieties are replaced with the more urgent concern of not plummeting to your doom – or, at least, the crash mat. Factor in the social element, plus the sense of accomplishment you’ll gain from summiting your local leisure centre’s wall, and you have an active prescription to keep your mood at its highest and your week’s training varied and rewarding. Give it a go and don’t stress – you’ll rock it.