Rock Climbing Holds

Rock climbing is a great strength and cardio workout for those who enjoy the sport.

Climbing is able to burn up to 380 calories in 30 minutes. Now if you know anything about calorie burn that is a lot for one form of exercise!

The great thing about rock climbing as a form of exercise is that you will never get bored. Rock climbing has a high motivation factor and you won't burn out as quickly as you will just going to the gym.

Rock climbing has become a very popular way to get an upper and lower body strength workout while at the same time a cardio workout. The arms are used for place holdings and hanging, but your legs also benefit because they provide the power to propel you vertically up the side of the wall.

Climbing can also be non-impact and does not cause much back and knee pain.

Although rock climbing is a great workout in itself, there are other strategies that a beginning climber can use to improve his or her ability to climb longer.

Most beginning climbers notice that their grip goes first. Improving forearm strength is often their first priority when training to rock climb. Improving forearm strength will help to improve your ability to climb better and longer.

Whether you are training for climbing or working out through climbing, you need to warm up your muscles. Start with some low easy moves, even when you're on the crag.

This will help your muscles get ready to do the strenuous climbing. Stretch all of your muscles, including your legs.

Light stretching and muscle strain helps to prepare muscles for climbing and the workout in general.

Top roping at indoor climbing gym is a great way to get in some cardio. It can definitely get the heart rate going as well as work your muscles. For a cardio workout we recommend you do some really easy routes to warm up, then do a lot of routes that you can do fairly easily, with maybe one or two hard routes mixed in.

Climbing involving static movements will help to improve arm and leg strength.

One of the best exercises for climbing cardio is doing laps of climbing up and down climbing. The down climbing is the important thing here.

Climbers will also develop leaner muscles that are suited to the moves that climbers make. Most climbers will not want to bulk-up too much as the muscle will actually be more in the way of your maneuvers than anything.

Climbing should focus on building long, lean and flexible muscles.

Climb strong, climb safe

Ryan Coisson

About the Author

Ryan Coisson is the founder of http://rock-climbing-for-life.com - Rock Climbing Holds - and co-author of Mastering the Rock.

Rock Climbing Holds