The climbing gym has started a 'bouldering boot camp' that focuses on strength development for rock climbing. A friend I thought we would check it out. A class is a good way to maintain a schedule too, so I was particularly drawn. If I could turn climbing into a proper work out (a la regular gym) that would be superlative.
This boot camp turned out be surprisingly hard core. The warm up was interesting, hopping on one food, warming up the shoulders my swinging around the arms, then the 'power yoga' started. This was a bit of chair for 30s or so then staying in chair twisting the torso to the left and right, holding each for 20s then, going back to chair for another 10s or so. Pretty intense on the quads! Then there was another pose that escapes me at the moment.
After the warm up it was into the rotation track. Everyone was paired up. Each station was 45s long, with two activities, each parter does one for the 45s. Sometimes the 2nd was just a rest and each activity was done twice. The worst stations were probably squatting with a boxing bag: squatting and standing, lifting a boxing bag constantly for 45 seconds is rough. It really helped to have your partner cheer you on. After that there was some tree pose and a balance exercise which was fortunate because the following station was inverted crunches on a swiss ball and 'running push ups' (in the push up position bring one foot up to your chest level and back down again in turn). After that I thought I would puke.
It was a really great work out in the end. I had super tight hamstrings all day for the following two days!
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