Bouldering or rock climbing is a sport everyone should try at least once. That's the great thing about this sport – you can walk into it every so often for a climb, or come regularly to gain skills. Luckily for all of us, we have a climbing centre right on our own campus. I find that bouldering has a very specific target audience and university students end up being the majority at a lot of climbing gyms, so how convenient that we have one right here! The Wilson Climbing Centre is a great place to start if you're new, or if you just don't want to go super far off campus. There are a ton of benefits to climbing that I have learned and experienced during my short time doing it, including mental and physical benefits.
Unlike many other sports, in my opinion, this is one that acts not only as physical exercise but also as mental exercise. Before I discuss its physical benefits, I wanted to focus more on the mental side. Bouldering requires a lot of problem-solving. You have to figure out where the best holds are, for both your hands and your feet as you get up and down the wall, and plan your route before you get up, attempting to follow it through or coming up with a new one as you go. You could even go in blind and try to feel out the wall. This sharpens your analytical skills even in day-to-day life because it's utilized so heavily during this sport. I believe this increases self-confidence as well, after all, it gives you the opportunity to overcome challenges. Every wall you complete leaves you with a newfound sense of triumph. It's definitely immediately rewarding. I found when I climbed at least a few times a week, it helped me focus and perform better in classes. I was able to sit down and get things done without feeling fidgety and wanting to move again every couple of hours. Because I write so much (who would have guessed?!) I was easily able to see a change in both my writing and the approach I took to writing; it somehow became a less daunting task. I believe it was because it provides so much clarity to the mind, it even helped me sleep better at night – which is saying a lot for an insomniac like me.
From my experience with a few sports, bouldering is enjoyable because it doesn't have to be super competitive if you don't want it to be, (unless you're into the competitive aspect, then there are tons of competitions you can enter!) And if you're someone like me who doesn't like playing against people, and cares more about enjoying the sport itself, this is a great option!
As for the physical benefits of bouldering, it's a great option for a full-body workout. As I mentioned in a previous article that you can read here, I hate going to the gym because it requires so much planning. What part of the body are you going to work out? What routines? Machines, weight lifting? There were so many choices, so many parts…it would overwhelm me to the point of not going at all. The thing about climbing is that you can jump right into it regardless of anything, and you're able to work out every muscle. I have always had a very weak back, and this was the one thing that helped the pain subside. Walking into it, I was very afraid of another back injury, but if anything, it helped strengthen my back muscles and minimize pain. This did make going to the gym a less intimidating task, as it helped streamline my routine and help target what I felt needed more work. It also helped make weightlifting more approachable, and personally felt that it gave it more purpose, in a sense.
If you haven't yet, the Hanson Fitness & Wellness Centre is an easily accessible place to start and has all the equipment you could possibly need. Go between classes, or to start/end your day for a change of schedule! You can find people to help with machines if you're a beginner, and they also have a Gym Buddy program where they match you with someone for moral support and encouragement (and well, a gym buddy.)
On top of all this, I was able to meet so many new people through going to the gym and it's probably the friendliest community of people I have ever met. Everyone ends up being super supportive and encouraging, whether it's your first time or if you're an expert. Also if you're an avid shopper, there are a ton of cool accessories you can buy – cute chalk bags with chalk and shoes!
