Climbing is a very interesting sport that brings numerous benefits not only to the body but to the mind as well. Climbers most commonly need to be very focused while practicing this activity as even the slightest mistake can bring some serious consequences. That is why many climbers also practice yoga. If you are surprised by this information or you just don’t understand how yoga could help with climbing, read on for Yoga & Climbing: 4 Training Tips on How to Combine Them!
1. The Climbing-Yoga Connection
You may assume that climbers use yoga to get a good stretch before they get to the actual climbing. However, to climbers, yoga offers so much more than that.
Since yoga is an excellent workout that focuses on mindfulness, climbers can really benefit from practicing it. Yoga teaches you controlled breathing. This has been proven to greatly improve performance in climbers. So, no matter if you’re climbing outdoors or in your own rock-climbing gym you can use conditioned breathing to calm yourself down in stressful or challenging situations.
Aside from that, you can also perform some breathing exercises if you find yourself particularly struggling during your climb. Having proper gear is also vitally important. Climbing is tough and having quality shoes, shirts and proper workout socks is important, so don’t cheap out on them.
2. Yoga Postures Improve Balance
Next, yoga exercises are excellent for improving balance and posture, which is key for rock climbers. Since yoga focuses heavily on body awareness and learning how your body works, it becomes quite obvious why rock climbers stand to benefit a lot from it. There are lots of yoga exercises that are focused on improving balance and posture. And balance is key when practicing any type of sport – climbing included. So, use this activity to your advantage. Improve your posture and balance and learn how to hold and use your body the right way.
3. Yoga Improves Both Core Strength & Flexibility
There are plenty of yoga movements and positions that focus on improving core strength. And, as you already know, having a strong core is very important when rock climbing. Aside from core strength, practicing yoga will also help you improve your flexibility. As a rock climber, the more flexible you are, the easier it will be for you to master any climb. Improved flexibility will not only make climbing easier and more enjoyable but it will also make it far safer.
4. Reduced Probability of Injury
In the end, if you know how to use various breathing techniques to calm yourself down, have a strong core and are quite flexible, it’s safe to say that the odds of you injuring yourself while training will be reduced to a minimum.
Of course, this won’t be enough to ensure your total safety unless you also stay focused on the workout at hand. But it will significantly improve the quality of your workout. By making sure you stay focused, you will ensure that you don’t get your body into a difficult and compromising position. Also, if you happen to slip up and lose your stability, you will have a much easier time getting back on the right track if you are flexible, have good balance and the ability to refocus again quickly. Spider-man fans take note!
