Many people abandon their fitness routines for one surprisingly avoidable reason—they say it gets boring. Surveys have even shown nearly half of adults consider working out to be something they don’t enjoy. They see it as a chore.
That’s why it’s always good to stay adventurous when it comes to exercise. You want something that’s exciting and, even, fun. You know, like climbing.
Yes, climbing. Whether you’re going up a rock wall or along a row of monkey bars, the act of climbing is one that forces you to move your body weight against the force of gravity, requiring the use of major muscle groups, flexibility, and even cognitive problem-solving skills. Don’t think that rock walls and monkey bars are just for kids—they can just as easily give adults a workout they’ll both enjoy immensely and reap great benefits.
Three common methods for climbing workouts:
Monkey Bars: Most people are familiar with monkey bars from childhood. These horizontal ladders require you to move your own body weight as you move from rung to rung. As an adult, you can still use them to get a vigorous workout that involves chin-ups, pull-ups, dips, hangs, and more.
Rock Wall: As with monkey bars, many people have their first experience with a rock wall in childhood, usually at summer camp. Rock walls are also found at many gyms and recreational centers. Sometimes called a climbing wall, a rock wall is artificially constructed (either indoors or outdoors) with indentations or grips that climbers can hold as they make their way upward.
Ladder Climber: The final option for climbing, though the least common, is a ladder climber, a piece of equipment similar to a treadmill in which rungs cycle around, creating an experience like climbing up an endless ladder. (The Jacobs Ladder Step Machine is the most common brand on the market.)
Each of these methods of climbing will vary in the workout they give you. For example, you will likely use your leg strength more with wall climbing and ladder climbing than you will with monkey bars; on the other hand, monkey bars have greater opportunity to work your core than wall climbing (though wall climbing still requires core strength). If all methods are available, it’s worthwhile to try each to see which one you enjoy most. Or you can keep all of them in your rotation to ensure nothing ever gets boring!
Here’s what you can expect when you start climbing your way to better health:
Stronger arms and shoulders. Climbing requires you to pull your own bodyweight, working your biceps, triceps, forearms, and shoulders. You even have to put your grip strength to the test! At different times, moving up a rock wall or along monkey bars will require static muscle contractions (that is, holding yourself in place) as well as the flexing and extending of your muscles as you bend your arms, pulling yourself up or lowering yourself down. This gives you a chance to hit your muscle fibers from all angles.
A more powerful core. Keeping yourself stable and balanced as you climb upward or swing from monkey bar to monkey bar will require strength in your abs, back, and hips. If you’re on the monkey bars, try kicking your legs in front of you and raising them up until they’re parallel with the ground and your body forms a 90-degree angle. Try holding this form as you hang for as long as possible or as you swing from bar to bar.
Better posture and flexibility. Going up a rock wall requires you to move your body in ways you normally don’t. You might have to stretch to reach one of the grips, or you might need to contort or bend your body to rest your feet on grips that are far apart while you think through your next move. Additionally, thanks to the strength you gain in your back and shoulders, you’ll likely have improved posture from so much climbing.
Aerobic endurance. Although climbing tests your strength and can be done slowly, upping the speed will get your heart racing and cause you to break a sweat. This will give you cardiovascular benefits (and it will torch calories, helping you maintain a healthy weight)
Mental prowess. Climbing requires you to be constantly thinking about your next move. If you’re on a rock wall, you need to figure out which grip you’re going to grab next—and where you’ll put your foot when you do. If you’re swinging along monkey bars, come up with a varied exercise for each rung: For example, you could do a leg lift, then swing to the next rung, do a chin up, then swing to the next rung, and so forth. Make sure you’re always thinking about what your next move is going to be!
