Everyone should rock climb
Andrew Williams • August 11, 2025
Major benefits while having fun
Why Rock Climbing is the Perfect Complement to Your Training
If your fitness routine lives mostly in the gym—think squats, deadlifts, presses, and sprints—you’re already doing great things for your strength and conditioning. But if you want to challenge your body in new ways, improve mobility, and sharpen your mental game, adding rock climbing to your training might be the missing piece.
1. Opens Up Your Hips and Ankles
In the gym, most lower-body exercises happen in a predictable range of motion. Climbing forces you to break out of that box. You’ll find yourself reaching high with one foot, twisting your hips toward the wall, or stepping into deep, uneven stances you’d never see in a squat rack. These positions help open your hips and ankles, increasing joint mobility and overall movement freedom.
2. Builds Serious Grip Strength
Few activities train your grip quite like climbing. Whether you’re holding small crimps, wrapping your fingers over ledges, or hanging on by your fingertips, your forearms work overtime. This kind of grip endurance transfers directly to lifting, carrying, pulling—and even everyday tasks. Plus, strong hands mean better control and safety during all your training.
3. Challenges Your Body in Unfamiliar Positions
Most gym training focuses on linear, predictable movement patterns—forward, backward, up, and down. Climbing throws in rotations, lateral shifts, and full-body reaches that demand strength, stability, and coordination in positions you wouldn’t normally encounter. This unpredictability makes your body more adaptable and resilient.
4. The Mental Game
Climbing isn’t just physical—it’s problem-solving under pressure. Each route is like a puzzle, forcing you to think about balance, sequencing, and how to conserve energy. This focus on strategy can translate into smarter, more mindful training in the gym.
Bringing It All Together
Rock climbing isn’t a replacement for your regular training—it’s a powerful addition. You’ll improve mobility in your hips and ankles, build a rock-solid grip, and expose your body to new challenges that make you stronger, more flexible, and more coordinated. Plus, it’s an incredibly fun way to move, which means you’ll actually look forward to doing it.
So the next time you’re looking for a cross-training activity, grab some climbing shoes and hit the wall. Your joints, your grip, and your brain will thank you.
Sarah is a proud mother of two and works full time, leaving her with very little free time. Still, she’s committed to staying healthy for her family. For the past two months, Sarah has been working with S&P—and she’s earned the title of Mrs. Consistency! Her goal is steady progress in strength and mobility, and that’s exactly how we train: controlled, full-range movements, loaded appropriately for her. Even with her busy schedule, Sarah makes time to show up and push herself, and we strive to make that hour in the gym the best part of her day—a time just for her. Sarah, you’re doing amazing, and I couldn’t be prouder of your dedication!
