These days, more and more people are getting into what are known as extreme sports. One of the fist known extreme sports, which was done by millions of people before it ever became an extreme sport, is mountain climbing. This is a fun and exciting way to get plenty of exercise, and, if you can’t get to a mountain, the sport has become so popular that you can find indoor rock walls to climb in just about every city and town across North America.
When you get into rock climbing, you will gain strength, improve muscle tone and increase flexibility, all things you need to be able to mountain climb in the first place.
Outdoor Rock Climbing Lets You Commune with the Great Outdoors
When you decide to make rock climbing your sport/exercise of choice, you will be getting into a sport that will really allow you to commune with nature. You will be out there facing the elements, and must use your physical strength to get yourself to the top of the rock or mountain. Rock climbing is great for your cardiovascular system, and when added to the fact that you will be breathing in fresh mountain air, you will be doubling the benefits.
Don’t Let Foul Weather Stop You
Often, especially for those of us living in North America, we don’t always live in an area where the weather is good enough to mountain climb year-round. But, you don’t need to let this stop you. As we mentioned earlier, there are all kinds of places where you can climb on indoor rock walls, and you get pretty much the same benefits as outdoor rock climbing, with the exception of the great scenery and fresh air. But, it’s better than nothing, and you’ll more than likely have loads of fun doing this as well as climbing outdoors.
Wear the Right Gear
You need specific gear for most sports to ensure safety, but this is especially true with mountain climbing. You need to wear clothing that is comfortable and not constricting, but that is not loose-fitting either, because you don’t want pant legs or sleeves catching on rocks and branches, causing you to lose your footing or grip. Make sure that you wear a helmet, knee pads and elbow pads, and wear the proper footwear. If you are unsure of what you need, talk to a sporting goods expert to get the right gear.
Once you have your gear, and a place to climb, you’re all set to start off on many fun and exciting adventures that are going to help keep you in awesome shape.
***Consult your doctor before beginning any exercise program***
