And Chris McNamara, founder of the American Safe Climbing Association in Berkeley, Calif., believes that almost all climbing accidents are self-imposed. Another myth about climbing, say industry professionals, is that you need brute upper-body strength to pull yourself up the rock. It's important to be generally fit, but flexibility is actually more important than strength. That's why yoga is excellent for climbers. To improve cardiovascular power while you're getting ready to scale that cliff face, though, it's a good idea to do some other aerobic activity, such as running, swimming or cross-country skiing, at least once a week.
Grip strength is also essential.
Dr. Byron Crouse, a physician in Duluth, Minn., recommends that climbers keep a grip strengthener at the office and use it while they work. But never grip more than three minutes at a time, he cautions, and stop whenever you feel any soreness, because overtraining can lead to tendinitis in the hands or forearms. In fact, if you already have tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome or any other problem with your ligaments and joints, you should probably avoid climbing. But the training doesn't stop there. Even after a novice climber has a few classes under his or her belt and feels ready to tackle the great outdoors, it's still important to work under the supervision of a trained professional.