If you’ve noticed people climbing colorful walls all over your social media feeds sans harness and wondered what was going on, you’re not alone. “Bouldering is a type of rock climbing that can be done indoors or outdoors on short walls or large boulders,” explains Alex Beale, owner of99 Boulders. Since you don’t climb as high as you would when sport climbing, boulderers place pads beneath them rather using harnesses, ropes and hardware.
那么，为什么这项运动如此受欢迎？首先，到处都有地石体育馆出现。但这不是唯一的原因：“抱石很有吸引力，因为这是一种锻炼和锻炼肌肉的有趣和社交方式，”比尔说。“再加上这项运动的额外功能 - 面对恐惧的刺激，解决问题的方面，通过强迫您专注于每一步的方式来清除思想的方式 - 您拥有令人上瘾的消遣方式。”
Here, even more reasons to try this buzzy activity:
您不需要昂贵的装备或专业知识即可开始
In general, traditional rock climbing can be a pricey sport, since you either have to buy or rent the equipment needed to do it safely. Plus, you need some training and know-how before you can really get started.
比尔解释说：“与运动攀爬相比，抱石需要对技能和装备的前期投资更少。”“您不需要购买安全带或学习如何固定或打结。您所需要的只是攀爬鞋和一堵墙。这是最便宜，最容易获得的攀登形式。”
更重要的是，对缺乏经验的人来说，抱石感觉就像是一个更“友好”的选择。“这比您的地面只有几英尺远，这一点不那么恐吓，”纯种抱石健身房in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
所有健身水平都可以参与
卡里略说：“无论他们多么合适，几乎任何人都可以尝试抱石。”“大多数抱石的健身房都将所谓的'V量表'上的攀登级别，而V0是最简单的，此后的每个数字都在增加难度（大多数健身房设置为V10/V11系列）。”
Climbing routes consist of ‘holds,’ or rocks/parts of rocks that you can grab onto to ascend. Particularly difficult sequences of holds are called ‘problems.’ “A good bouldering gym should have more than enough easy problems to get you started and off the ground,” Carrillo notes.
YOU’LL GET AN AWESOME WORKOUT
“抱石是建立手臂肌肉，手指力量和的好方法core strength, Carrillo says. With good technique, your leg muscles can get a workout, too.”
“When I started bouldering, I had to learn how to pace myself and take breaks at the gym so that I didn’t tire out too quickly,” Beale adds. And if you’ve never tried it before, you can expect to feel the effects the next day. “Whenever I take a friend bouldering for the first time, they usually last no more than 30 minutes before their forearms are too tired to grip the holds. Then they text me the day after about how sore they are.”
您不只是训练身体
吸引人们进入抱石的元素之一是您必须出现问题才能使自己的道路上墙。因此，从某种意义上说，您实际上也在训练自己的思想。
This quality can also produce other mental benefits: “I’ve played many sports over the years, and, for me, climbing is the best of all of them at relieving stress,” Beale says. “The focus required to climb forces you to stay present. You can’t think about work while you’re on the wall.”
YOU’LL MAKE SOME FRIENDS ALONG THE WAY
If you’ve just moved to a new city or are looking to meet others who also enjoy working out, a bouldering gym could be the perfect spot to do that. “Bouldering is a very community-oriented sport and is a great way to meet other like-minded, active people,” Carrillo says.
Bouldering also presents the unique opportunity to take new friendships outside the gym and into the great outdoors. “Most climbers nowadays start indoors, but climbing outdoors is even more rewarding,” Beale points out. “Many outdoor climbing destinations are in beautiful locales, and a trip surrounding climbing can be a great way to bond with your friends and make lasting memories.”
