Indoor Rock Climbing Gyms Are Bringing More Than Exercise To The Fitness Scene
SHARE
Unsplash/Roya Ann Miller
Over the past few years, indoor rock climbing gyms have popped up all over the country — and not just in urban centers. As of 2016, there were 414 of these facilities spread across all 50 states, according to the Climbing Business Journal. And the Midwest is actually the region that’s experienced the most growth. (We’re talking states like Oklahoma, Nebraska and Ohio.) But what makes these climbing gyms so enduringly popular? Well, there are a few key factors at play here.
They make a once-extreme sport incredibly accessible.
One of the major reasons climbing gyms have experienced such an uptick in popularity over the past decade is that fear of being possibly near death is left out of the equation. The safety standards of indoor climbing gyms far surpass simple belay systems used on dramatic rockfaces in the great outdoors, so true beginners can walk in and give climbing a go within minutes and avoid risking a majorly dangerous fall. Guides and instructors monitor each person’s safety as much as they’re paying attention to their form.
They challenge people to face their fears.
Just because it’s a lot safer than traditional rock climbing doesn’t mean it’s still not scary AF for people who hate heights or the feeling of their feet dangling in the air well above the ground. But that makes it an amazing controlled environment in which people can tackle these discomforts head on and possibly even overcome them. And the sense of accomplishment that comes along with this feat — not even factoring in the actual physical workout you receive from climbing — is game-changing.
They come with a built-in sense of community.
Once people catch the indoor rock climbing bug, they can’t seem to let it go. They’re hooked and it becomes a major part of how they live their lives, similarly to how people integrate a yoga practice, CrossFit workout or SoulCyle class into their daily routines. So you can imagine that you’d get to know the group of like-minded people you spend your mornings (or evenings) climbing alongside throughout the week. Some even refer to climbing gyms as a “home away from home” because of the support system they provide.
They defy the boundaries of the natural world.
One of the best parts about indoor climbing gyms is that they make the natural topography of where you live entirely irrelevant. That’s why, as we mentioned earlier, you can see the trend booming in super-flat states like Oklahoma, Nebraska and Ohio. It brings fitness-minded folks a brand new physical and mental outlet that they otherwise would have never experienced without traveling a distance. These gyms are the great equalizer in the climbing world, and we’re all about that.
They convert the meekest of people into total badasses.
The personal growth and development opportunities that come along with tackling a challenge like rock climbing are endless. The sport forces you to buck up before you even get your harness belt on. It requires you to solve mental puzzles with your physical body. It helps you learn how to think strategically and consider how one move could impact your next five. And it gives you an unbelievable endorphin high when you finally reach the top of that faux rockface and get to glide back down to the bottom with a beaming smile on your face.
Next on
