At AFAC, we’re surrounded by outdoor rock-climbing opportunities, and many members of our Thornton gym have experienced the benefits of this thrilling activity first-hand. From the calorie-burning, full-body workout to the improved flexibility, balance, and cardio fitness, the advantages of rock climbing can’t be overstated.
One potential downside of outdoor rock climbing, however, is how inclement weather can make your adventure a little too hazardous (if not impossible). Now that we’re entering the fall season, rock climbing fans will be hanging up their shoes for a few months, instead of risking a climb on slippery snow- and ice-covered cliffs.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a gym near you with an indoor climbing cave where you could still take part in your favorite activity, even during the fall and winter? If you’re a member of AFAC gym, your wish has been granted! Our full-service gym is one of the few in Thornton with an indoor climbing cave and a double auto-belay climbing wall, allowing our members to climb to their heart’s content all year long.
Benefits of Indoor Rock Climbing at AFAC Gym
Whether you’re a rock-climbing expert or just thinking about giving it a try, indoor rock climbing at AFAC gym comes with an abundance of benefits for your body, mind, and lifestyle. Below we’ve listed the top rewards you’ll get from climbing inside our Thornton gym.
Convenience
In addition to our indoor rock-climbing cave (AKA “The Cave”) and double auto-belay climbing wall, Adventure Fitness Athletic Club also offers everything else you need to pursue your fitness goals at our gym. From our group classes to our low-impact workouts, strength-training equipment, personal trainers, cryotherapy, and hydro massage bed, AFAC gym has it all, PLUS indoor climbing. That means you won’t have to drive to another facility just to climb — you can do it all under one roof at AFAC gym. For even more convenience, we also offer climbing helmets. Simply ask the front desk for assistance.
Muscle Strengthening
Indoor rock climbing forces you to use almost every muscle group in your body, which means it’s a good alternative when you want some variety from pumping iron at the gym. When you climb, you’ll use your arms and legs to pull your body up and around the wall, while you’ll need your abs to keep you balanced and stabilized. According to research, dynamic movements that require you to use several muscle groups can build strength faster than simpler exercises that work one muscle group at a time.
Low-Impact Exercise
Rock climbing is also a low-impact exercise that doesn’t put any heavy-pounding impact on your joints. There’s also very little repetition in the body’s movements when climbing, unlike repetitive exercises like weightlifting and running. Climbers do, of course, strain their joints on rare occasion, but the impact of climbing on the body is negligible.
Flexibility
As you reach, pull, and stretch to climb in The Cave, you’ll improve your flexibility and range of motion. Over time, this gives you a lean, toned, athletic build and helps you maintain functional fitness in many other areas of your life.
Cardiovascular Fitness
Climbing The Cave is hard work that will get your heart pumping and lungs breathing hard from beginning to end. There’s no doubt that indoor rock climbing gives you a solid cardiovascular workout that increases your endurance and makes your heart and lungs stronger.
Calorie Burning
Indoor climbing burns calories, and lots of them. While the actual number depends on your weight, height, age, and gender, climbing burns approximately 700-800 calories per hour. Just keep in mind that this calorie burn only happens when you’re climbing and not during any rest stops or pauses in between.
Coordination
If you struggle with clumsiness and poor coordination, indoor rock climbing can help you increase your hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness. Navigating the various hand- and footholds in The Cave requires meticulous planning, coordination, stamina, and balance. You must place intense focus on where you’ve been, where you are, and where you’re going. As you practice climbing, you’ll notice improvements in your motor skills when you go about your daily activities.
Treating of Chronic Disease
Exercise offers important health benefits for those who want to prevent chronic disease or improve their condition. Just make sure to talk to your doctor before starting any exercise routine. Once you get the green light, regular exercise — including indoor rock climbing — is credited with managing the symptoms of several chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, asthma, cancer, and dementia. Doctors generally recommend at least 30 minutes of accumulated physical activity per day, at least five days per week. And you don’t have to get the exercise all at once; you can break it up into smaller chunks of time, spread throughout the day.
If you’ve never tried rock climbing, start slowly, and build up your skill and endurance over time. Ask the team at AFAC gym for assistance in learning how to climb, and we’ll be happy to show you!
Cognitive and Problem-Solving Skills
To climb a wall or cave, you need to carefully plan each move of your hands and feet. This gives your brain a real work out and can help improve your problem-solving skills. Over time, some climbers get to know The Cave so well that they smoothly and gracefully flow from one hold to the next as if they’re dancing in air.
Fighting Boredom
As much as we all love working out, pounding out a few miles on the treadmill or doing set-after-set on weight machines can get mundane. Indoor rock climbing might provide the mental stimulation you’ve been craving. It’s fun, challenging, and different every time.
Reducing Depression
All the decision making, focus, and planning that goes into indoor rock climbing can improve your overall mental health and function. Studies have shown that rock climbing helps to fight the symptoms of depression, reduces anxiety, and improves coping skills — even more so than other types of exercise. It’s possible that the focus required when climbing is what improves mental health.
Overcoming Fear
Do you suffer from anxiety and fear whenever you face an upcoming project, test, or public speaking engagement? Indoor climbing might be able to help you! Everyone is nervous about falling the first few times they climb, but since you’re in a safe environment, it’s okay to get those first few falls out of the way. As you overcome your fears of failing while climbing, you’ll feel more confident to try new challenges and take new risks.
Socializing With Your Tribe
Indoor rock climbing will introduce you to a fun, tight-knit, and diverse community of like-minded people who will cheer you on and help you achieve your goals. Climbing encourages an atmosphere of conversation and collaboration more than competitiveness (although some climbing buddies have been known to challenge each other to a climbing race or two). Fellow climbers tend to be supportive of each other, so it’s worth your time to get to know the people climbing The Cave with you. You might find yourself going out for a protein smoothie with your climbing buddies at the end of your workout!
You Can Do it Year Round
Probably one of the best benefits of indoor climbing at AFAC gym is that you can do it during any season, regardless of the weather outside. That makes it great training for outdoor climbing when the season arrives and allows you to keep your climbing skills in tip top shape.
The Cave Will Rock Your World at AFAC Gym
If you’re looking for a new challenge at AFAC gym, or if you’re feeling down because your outdoor climbing season is coming to an end, make sure to check out The Cave at AFAC gym. You’ll discover that indoor rock climbing will give you the vertical challenge you need to bring your workouts to a new level at the best gym in Thornton, Colorado. For more information, please stop by our gym to chat with a member of our staff. We offer the expert guidance you need to make your indoor rock climbing experience safe and fun. You can also contact our gym owner, Susan, at 720-849-0245 or susan@adventurefitness.club for assistance.
To read more articles from Adventure Fitness Athletic Club, check out our Adventure Corner blogs by clicking here.
