Health — 1 comment
29
Jun 11

Do Ergonomic Chairs Really Work?

What is Ergonomics?

The easiest definition of ergonomics is the science of work. The scientists behind ergonomics study work and how to improve work between people and their environment. The concentration of this science is the material around us that will help us to work better and comfortably. For example, millions of people work in an office where they spend around eight hours a day sitting in front of a computer. Their chair, the height of their desk and posture are examples of ergonomics. If the chair is not the right height or is not comfortable, then that person will not be able to work efficiently or productively.

It is important that the ergonomics around a person fit their specific needs so that they can work to the best of their ability. If not, their company may suffer, their health may suffer and they may lose their job if they do not perform up to the standards of their company. Ergonomics helps to save time, and it can also improve your health, life and employment.

Ergonomics Chair

The type of chair an employee sits in can play a part in their health and productivity. A chair that is the wrong height and does not support the back can cause a person to experience back pain and maybe valuable time off of the job. An ergonomics chair should have adjustable seat height, seat width and depth, lumbar support, a backrest, comfortable seat material, armrests and the ability to swivel. Many traditional chairs have these options, but an ergonomics chair should have them all.

There are a few types of ergonomics chairs.

- The kneeling chair has no back, but supports the lower back. It reduces stress from the back and leg muscles. It helps the person to sit more naturally and comfortably because the support comes from the seat of the chair.

- The saddle chair is shaped like a horse’s saddle and puts the person in a position of sitting and standing. It is good for people who slouch and have lower back problems because it forces good spinal posture and takes the weight off of the legs.

- The recliner chair helps to take the pressure off and allows the person to feel comfortable when their feet are raised. There are desks and small tables available to work around the recliner chair so that people can work comfortably and efficiently.

Do Ergonomics Chairs Really Work?

Pros:

These chairs are usually used for people with lower back pain. Sometime lower back pain can result from bad posture. Ergonomics chairs do work because they force that person sitting in them to straighten their back and sit correctly. They have shown to reduce back pain and strengthen the muscles as well. When the traditional chair is substituted for an ergonomics chair, they will feel much different. Good posture is crucial to our health, which means that ergonomics chairs are not just for work but for improving health as well.

Cons:

Not all ergonomic chairs are for everyone. While one may work for someone, it may not work for someone else. They may be hard to get used because their designs are not very traditional. Some of the designs also make them hard to fit in some offices because lack of space. The chair may also seem out of place in an organized or decorated office space. Also, some of the chairs may be a little more expensive than the traditional desk chair.

While these ergonomic chairs may not look traditional, they do have some benefits that can help people in their work.

Health — No comments
29
Jun 11

Detox and Body Cleansing For Improved Health

Detox or body cleansing is a way to rid ones body of toxins and other unwanted substances to improve overall health. It can take the form of diets, fasting, colon cleansing, dietary supplements or even the removal of mercury dental fillings from the teeth. The goal is to improve health, raise energy, get rid of headaches, lose weight, eliminate bloating, improve allergies and prevent aging.

Detox diet plans incorporate eating options that in aid detoxifying the body. The goal is to get rid of contaminants that find their way into foods such as coloring, preservatives and flavor enhancers. Often fats and sugars are limited or all foods containing them are eliminated during fasting. The aim of this is to use up stored fats which are a major source of stored toxins in the body and get rid of them via the blood, urine skin, etc.

Colon cleansing, involves the use of enemas and various herbs to remove food remnants present in the colon. Another form of detox is the removal of heavy metals such as lead and mercury from the body. Part of this is the replacement of mercury amalgam dental fillings. Herbs such as cilantro and chlorella are used to help eliminate heavy metals from the body. Adhesive pads and foot baths are used to help eliminate toxins from the skin.

Detox diets are usually short term diets often ranging in time from a few days up to around three weeks. Food intake into the body during this time is greatly reduced. Meals can take the form of juice drinks or small meals. Examples of detox diets include the lemonade diet (or master cleanse), juice fasting and raw food diets. Many celebrities have endorsed detox diets including Gwyneth Paltrow, Howard Stern and Bill Clinton.
As with other forms of dieting medical advice should be sought before undertaking a detox diet. Consult with your doctor before undertaking any form of weight-loss.

Joanne Hunter writes on self help topics including detox diets.

Money — No comments
25
Jun 11

Self Help Debt Negotiation Can Help You Settle Your Debts

It is necessary on your part to repay your outstanding credit card debts as much as you can if you find it very difficult to pay them off in full. You can settle your outstanding balances with the help of debt settlement. To settle your outstanding balances, you need to negotiate with your creditors so that you can convince them to reduce your outstanding dues to some extent.

Debt negotiation – What it is

When you’re unable to consolidate debt, you can opt for debt settlement/negotiation. Debt negotiation is settling your debts by negotiating with your creditors so that you can reduce your outstanding debts. Whether you have excessive credit card bills, medical bills or payday loans, etc. debt negotiation helps you reduce your outstanding debts so that you can pay off your debts easily and get rid of it relatively fast. The negotiation to settle the debts takes place between you and your creditors. You have to convince your creditors so that they accept to settle your debts.

How to settle your debts on your own

• Plan a realistic budget – If you want to settle your credit card debts, the first thing you need to do is to plan a realistic budget that you’re going to follow. Your budget should include your expenses and savings. A good budget not only helps you manage your daily expenses, but also helps you save money for emergency needs. The amount of money that you’re going to save every month will help you pay off your credit card debts.

• Negotiate with your creditors – You can follow these tips while negotiating with your creditors

1. Proper negotiation skills – It is very important on your part to know the proper negotiation skills when you negotiate with your creditors. Your sole purpose in negotiating with your creditors should be that they agree to reduce your outstanding dues to some extent

2. Avoid talking over phone – When you negotiate with your creditors, it is always advisable that you talk with them face to face instead of talking over the phone

3. Do not hurry while settling debts – You should not settle your outstanding debts in a hurry. Rather, you should be patient while trying to convince your creditors and make them understand that you cannot pay off your debts in full

It is very important on your part that when you make payments to your creditors, you keep a written document with you. Otherwise, it may happen that your creditors later deny the settlement amount they had previously agreed. In that situation, you’ll have to face problem in settling your outstanding balances. So, it is always suggested that you should not make any payment to your creditors without having a written agreement.

Medical — No comments
25
Jun 11

Pull Yourself out of Depression

If you are suffering from depression, you know that it is mentally, emotionally, and even physically exhausting. It can be difficult for others, even your spouse or close family members, to understand how you’re feeling, and even harder for them to know how to help. Fortunately, there are some definite positive steps you can take on your own towards recovery. Though you may wish for giant leaps forward, these small baby steps will lead you in the right direction, and get you there in time.

The key to feeling better is to use your limited resources and energy to plot a few small goals, and then follow through on them. These can be as simple as taking your dog for a walk or planting some flowers– the important thing is to get yourself moving and headed toward that place where you will once again enjoy life.

When a person is depressed, it is hard to look at things objectively, and seeing every glass as half empty can add to the depression fog. It is very important to maintain any existing close relationships—your friends and family will want to help you, but they will not know that they need to unless you ask for help, or they spend enough time with you to know something is amiss.

Depression is very common. In fact, one out of every seven Americans suffers from a depressive illness each year. It is not something for which the sufferer should feel ashamed. Often, the depression takes over in our minds and makes it difficult to sort things out, and getting the support of a trusted friend can work wonders. Let the people you love most know what you’re dealing with, and ask for their support. Even if you’d rather lay on the couch all day, make yourself go to planned social functions– you just might have a good time.

Consider joining a support group. There are lots of groups, and it can be helpful to hear what other people are going through, and share your own pain. Sometimes, just knowing that you’re not alone can be quite helpful. If you do not think you could bear a face-to-face meeting, perhaps an internet support group would be helpful. It is often easier to open up anonymously, and you may find that you are helping others as much as they are helping you. What a great way to recover your self-worth!

Another idea that might also help is to do some volunteer work. It can make you feel wonderful to help someone else. Why not check around and find a cause you believe in to throw yourself into? (If it involves puppies or other small animals, so much the better.)

Join a club that meets frequently, sign up for a cooking or exercise class, or make regular trips to the doggie park with your best friend. These things help you meet new people and get interested in life again. Why not have coffee or lunch with one of your new (or old) friends? Take a walk in the park with a buddy you meet in Pilates class, or go out to dinner, a movie, or a ball game. All of these things can help get you back on track, slowly but surely.

One final great idea– take a road trip and see the sights! Our world is big, and there are beautiful things to see in every area. Buy or lease a campervan, obtain great campervan insurance, and set out to leisurely explore the beauty that is all around you!

Medical — No comments
23
Jun 11

How to Decrease Stress through Exercise

MyGetRidOfGuide.com, was designed to help you prevent and treat your most unwanted situations.

Do you want to free yourself from stress after a hard day’s work? The answer is simple. Exercise.
Exercise is an excellent stress reduction tool because it helps release built-up tension in the body. It is also a great way to release emotional tension because through physical activity, your body releases the happy hormone “endorphin” which promotes a feeling of happiness. Overall, exercise helps promote health and wellness.

Some forms of exercise let you become more social. Some would let you get into a meditative state. All forms of exercise helps increase a person’s self-esteem, aside from promoting a sound mind and body.

So if you have the chance to exercise, just do it! The first step is to find the best exercise that would fit your needs. Here are some forms of exercise which can help reduce stress:

1. Yoga. Yoga allows you to enter a meditative state. It helps promote physical health and flexibility of the muscles through the various positions it entails. Aside from that, yoga also enhances the mind and spirit since you are able to concentrate and meditate.

2. Swimming. Water has soothing and calming properties which is perfect for the body. During summer, why not try this activity so that you can get in shape, cool off, and simply have a great time with friends and family. Swimming also helps develop the cardio-respiratory areas of the body. In fact, it is also good for treating asthma.

3. Karate. Who says karate is just for self defense? This form of exercise is also useful for releasing emotions such as anger and frustration and it is also effective for removing stress and tension. Aside from enhancing the body’s power and strength, karate is also a good exercise for self-discipline.

4. Brisk walking. If you want to take things easier, brisk walking is perfect for you. You can easily fit this activity in your busy schedule since you can do this form of exercise anytime, anywhere. In fact, you can take a walk early in the morning, during lunch, or even in the late afternoon or evening. During weekends, you can take your baby in a stroller and walk around your community.

5. Jogging. Jogging is also another good form of exercise. You can jog early in the morning before taking a shower or in the late afternoon before going home from school or work. Jogging is also a good exercise for the heart and lungs and it promotes leg power as well.

Remember that stress can cause illness and other negative effects in the body. One way to cope with stress is to regularly engage in physical as well as meditative exercises. If you exercise regularly, your body’s immune system is also given a boost, thereby, making you less prone to diseases.

Self Help — No comments
20
Jun 11

How to Relax Your Mind

Learning how to relax your mind can be quite difficult without a solid strategic plan. Your mind is like a spoiled child. It keeps on grasping to comfortable experience and running away from uncomfortable experience. Even when you frequently try to take a break and relax your mind, thoughts run all day long.

Here, you’ll learn how to relax your mind using mindfulness based methods that you are personally compatible with. This way, you will actually enjoy the experience.

The first thing you need to do to relax your mind is to choose an object of focus to concentrate on. Deep concentration on one object has been proven to relax your mind and your body. You may be thinking that you’ve tried concentration in a meditation class and it did not help you relax your mind. Maybe you found that you were too busy to use such mind relaxing methods. That’s what this article is for.

Concentration can be likened to falling in love. You can’t fall in love with just anyone, but you can fall in love with someone whom you are compatible with. Think about what you want to fall in love with. This can be a visualized image of the healing light of Jesus or the repetition of a loving devotional phrase.

You can visualize a serene childhood nature spot you visited as a kid or simply concentrate on the feeling of your own breath as it passes through the nostrils. If your object is simple and invites a state of deep, loving absorption, then you probably found your chosen object. The right object will invite you to relax your mind on a very deep level.

Choose a specific time of day that is specifically devoted to relaxing your mind. During this time, sit in a comfortable position with your vertebrae stacked one on top of the other. Start stacking from the bottom and work your way all the way up to the top of your head. Tuck in your chin a little bit to complete the process. Close your eyes either fully or partially to turn your attention “inward”.

Concentrate on your object of focus. If it’s a phrase, repeat it over and over again either silently or aloud. If your object is visual, then hold your attention on it. Your mind will try to trick you out of this. When your attention wanders, bring your attention back to your object. Don’t try to measure how you’re doing. Each time you bring your attention back, you are training your mind to relax.

If you really want to learn how to relax your mind, add mindfulness to your concentration practice. When your mind strays from the object of focus, simply watch the chatter. Take note of it as a detached observer and lightly “tap” your thoughts with the word “thinking”.

If repressed anger comes up, take note and “tap” it with the word “anger”. Pretend you are the sky, and these thoughts are clouds passing through you. Take note, then bring your attention back to your object of focus.

As you learn how to relax your mind, you will discover that thoughts are not distractions from the present moment. They are processes that are occurring in the present moment. Meditation trains you to relax your mind and embrace moment to moment experience as it arises. Taking note of your thoughts as a detached observer teaches you that you are an infinitely spacious being. Thoughts are occurring, but they’re not you.

You can also think of yourself as the ocean. The ocean is infinitely spacious, still, vast and calm. Only the waves are disturbed by storms and jumping fish. Your thoughts, body sensations and emotions are just waves. When you are calmly present with the waves as they rise and fall, you will realize that true happiness and relaxation is behind all this rising and falling. This will become more apparent as you learn how to relax your mind.

Even with the above instructions, you may still have difficulty relaxing your mind. Some experts will tell you to “practice practice practice” and let go of expectations of immediate results.

This is good advice. You will get some short term relaxation. However, you need to practice consistently to build a profound momentum of peace and relax your mind on a deep level. Each session builds on the next. True relaxation will come from this momentum and long term training process. This is true even if you devote a mere 10 minutes each day to relaxing your mind.

Stay consistent, and the art of learning how to relax your mind will become easier over time.

There are some tricks, however, that will help you to relax your mind in the short term. One trick is to develop a warm up strategy. Every meditation technique has some type of warm up strategy to relax the mind in preparation for a meditation session. Some are as simple as taking a few deep breaths.

Hatha Yoga has a more sophisticated regimen of stretching, poses and breathing exercises, after which it is a whole lot easier to relax your mind. Qigong uses a lot of exercises for loosening joints and generating feeling in the body.

Some contemplative Christians use scripture to prepare themselves for meditation, and other disciplines use offerings of gratitude for this same purpose. Find those physical and mental activities that help you to relax your mind. Begin this routine with stretching exercises because stretching is a universally helpful way for you to become anchored in the present moment and relax your mind.

Here’s another trick. Integrate your warm up activities into your daily life. You probably have a lot of down times in your day. Some, like elevator rides, are 30 seconds long. Others are longer. Use all of these down times for activities that help you relax your mind. Try some of the above warm up activities for this. Prayer will also help you relax your mind as will the simple act of imagining your family members and coworkers experiencing happiness and peace.

Whatever activities you choose to help you relax your mind, make sure you spend at least 30 seconds during each hour to do this. Sometimes, you’ll find that you can immediately relax your mind with these activities. Other times, you will find that they seem to have the opposite effect.

Regardless, all these activities will help you relax your mind in the long term. Most of the magic will accumulate behind the scenes until it becomes much easier to relax your mind deeply in any given moment. The art of learning how to relax your mind is cumulative as long as you maintain a good momentum. Try it for a month or two, and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

Tom Von Deck is an international corporate meditation trainer, speaker and author of Oceanic Mind – The Deeper Meditation Training Course and it’s companion, The Deeper Meditation Audio Course. Tom specializes in making meditation a much easier and more customized process for busy people and people from all religious backgrounds and lifestyles. Tom’s website is www.DeeperMeditation.net.

Travel — No comments
19
Jun 11

Defeat the Funk and Travel

If you’ve ever got yourself into a state of drinking and taking drugs as a means of escaping your present reality then you’ll know it’s only a short term fix. Sure it’s great when you’re high but then you have the crashing come down to deal with. If that doesn’t make you unwilling to get out of bed the realization that just chasing the dragon is unlikely to reap rewards can make you literally despair.

This vicious circle of substance abuse as a means of self-medicating your way through a period of depression does not usually have an easy or happy outcome. Whilst it can be fun at times, over a sustained period not only do you damage your health (not that you particularly care at the time) but you also don’t tend to sort the underlying problem out.

When all is lost pick up your passport
Now whilst I’m not advocating that you ever just run away from your troubles, for they generally still tend to be there when you get back, I do believe that a bit of perspective can do wonders for your mental state. And where better to get that perspective than in some foreign land where you can broaden your horizons with new experiences, see other people’s lives and living conditions and, in short, give you the bit of zest that may have been missing for a while.

Where to go
Well it depends on how fragile your mind is. If you’re feeling particularly vulnerable maybe a short simple holiday in the sun is all you really need. This can include adventure holiday activities like mountain biking or sky diving as a means of getting a different high or simply just doing some physical activity like running on a beach. The fact is any break from your normal routine can help for a lot of dependency problems can come down to a need to break out of routine and common surroundings.

For some, however, that will not be enough and a proper plan for a three to six month break is in order. As there are so many reasons for depression it’s hard to prescribe any one particular place to visit. What I do believe though is that something that challenges your perspective on life can only help.

Reorder your reward system
If you have got yourself into a bit of a mess through a reliance on a chemical of one sort or another to get you through your days you need to replace your reward system with something fulfilling. This is where a properly structured volunteer environment can play wonders.

By working as part of a community with an end goal in site you can work towards something with a clear outcome. This gradual, step by step process of taking one day at a time is a great confidence booster and supplies the body with natural endorphins for a job well done. Whilst not the immediate rush of old this feeling of empowerment can win out against that inner voice if given enough of a chance. Not only that but a shared development project can often be back breaking work so should the pull of temptation come your way later in the day, with any luck, you’ll be too exhausted to respond.

Where not to go
OK so that is but one example of how to put structure back into your life whilst challenging your reward system. What’s best to avoid is any idea of going to a country that is known for the free flow of your given substance. So if you’re looking to get off cocaine the last place you really should be thinking of heading is South America. Likewise if you’re hoping to dry out then you might need to focus your travel plans on predominantly Muslim countries. In short go somewhere where there is not a ready and easy supply of your drug of choice to at least give yourself the chance of sorting your head out.

Whilst that may seem like obvious advice its amazing what you’ll convince yourself of when making your plans! Believe me when I say I’ve been through this with a number of friends who have tried to get clean. The fact is if they can do it you can do it. You just need the determination to start.

About The Author: Josh Aggars writes about surf and travel with his twin passions taking him to amazing places around the world as explored in his regular articles. He sells havaiana flip flops to help fund his travels. Over the years he’s faced down dependency problems with a number of his surf crew. Connect with him on Facebook for tips and advice at any time.

Home — No comments
17
Jun 11

A Clear Home Makes Peace of Mind

Is this a cleanliness-next-to-godliness post? Not exactly. This is a post about how to use something as simple—and cheap—as a storage unit to clear your mind.

I didn’t link to the storage unit, but Google them to get prices. I want to prove a very simple point very early on: this does not require a huge investment. You don’t even know what “this” is yet, but in our economy, the dollar is the most important thing to me and you. Keep reading to find peace of mind without giving away a huge piece of your paycheck.

Clear Space = Free Thinking

It’s a phenomenon that works across myriad platforms—the more space you have, the more you can get done. Clear a computer’s RAM of all the clutter, and your computer can suddenly load a page before you can even click on it. Clear an engine’s EGR valves of all the gunk, and your power and performance go through the roof. (We’re getting to the storage unit in a second—just hang on to that little bit of info.)

When your mind is involved, this principle works across a few different platforms. Clear your inbox at work, and you can breathe a little easier when your boss walks by. Clear your credit card of all your debt, and you can sleep at night. But the easiest way to clear away the clutter is one of the most ignored, and that’s clearing away the real, actual, literal clutter sitting right next to your computer as you read this post.

A Clear House Is Possible

I’m avoiding the word “clean” on purpose here. “Clean” can be very ambiguous, especially when the two sexes start arguing about what qualifies as a “clean” shower. What I want to highlight is a clear space, or one where the odds and ends are out of sight and therefore (you guessed it) out of mind.

But some people simply don’t have the space to put all of the stuff they have accumulated. Maybe you just need a little (or a lot) more square footage to really achieve the clarity of space that brings the clarity of mind. The problem is that no one really has the money for the bigger mortgage that comes with a bigger space.

You’re right. You need more square footage without footing another few hundred a month in interest, principle, taxes, insurance, yadayadayada. And when a storage unit in Los Angeles, CA, only costs $40-some-odd bucks, how much do you think you can get a storage unit for in your town?

The Savoir-faire of Clearing Your Mind

Here’s how you do it: go through everything in your house—from your socks to your kitchen wares—and decide whether something is summer, winter, or in-between. Be harsh. Be brutal. Dare to call a pair of socks “winter” just to get them out of your space. It’s your call to leave or keep the “in-between” pile, but I strongly advise you to pack it up and cart it off to a storage unit for 6 months. Then don’t think about it. You can switch out your house on a Saturday afternoon in October and repeat the cycle.

Here’s what you’ve accomplished: you completely cleared your house of all that stuff that you don’t need but you can’t really throw away. You regained a solid 500 square feet of space (at least), and just like emptying your inbox at work and clearing your credit card, you have the clear home that gives you a clear mind.

Bonne chance!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jared Heath is a freelance writer whose wife and LA storage units saved him from his destructively over-cluttered lifestyle. He now writes as an advocate of clear spaces and justice for all.

 

Employment — No comments
16
Jun 11

Staying Upbeat While Up Unemployment Street

Are you newly graduated, young, brilliant, fresh, and . . . unemployed?

Join the club. This particular club increases its membership every time graduation seasons rolls around again. It’s easy to get discouraged and even depressed when the American Job Opportunity was just added to the endangered species lists of 47 states and Puerto Rico. While staying optimistic may or may not help you get a job quicker, it will certainly make the wait a lot more enjoyable. So how do you it?

Tell yourself a good story — Allow yourself to be optimistic. I tell myself stories all day long. After getting a text from a girl, I might tell myself this story: This girl likes me and wants me to ask her out. Or I might tell myself the following story: Ugh, what does she want now? She only calls me when she wants help on her biology homework. Telling yourself good stories about what happens can help you maintain a positive attitude. There’s no need to be dishonest about it, (thinking, “she’s probably kidding” after receiving a job rejection email might not be the best policy to live by), but by considering the positive possibilities, you will find yourself to be a much happier person.

Stay active — Staying on the job trail can be taxing. Exercising will help you feel better about yourself. As a side benefit, you’ll also look better which (for better or for worse) might have an effect on whether or not you get hired. Being active does not necessarily mean hefting weights for eight hours a day (that actually might be unhealthy, as a matter of fact). It means getting away from your laptop and moving around. If playing the Wii is your cup of prune juice, then by all means have at it. Making use of your cities recreation center can be a good way to stay active, however, don’t discount the advantage of feeling the sun on your skin and the wind on your face.

Network — Believe it or not, this is both a job-getting technique and a good way to maintain an optimistic attitude. Don’t isolate yourself from the social world. Mix and mingle with other peers in your graduating class, old roommates and friends, relatives, distant relations, neighbors, old bosses, etc. Every single job that I’ve had has been earned through some sort of network connection. “Knowing somebody who knows someone who works at–” is a great place to start a job.

Don’t cry over failed interviews — One of the first experiences I had applying for a job was a . . . rather negative experience. The guy proceeded tearing me apart for the way I was dressed, my naivety in coming in that particular day, etc. It was horrible. And now I laugh about it. That interview has no impact on my eligibility to get another interview or (even better) get hired. Learn from your mistakes (I certainly learned a couple lessons from that interview) but don’t let your last interview make you lose your self confidence in the next interview.

Keep balanced — Wake up. Check for jobs online. Eat. Check for jobs. Edit resume. Check for jobs. Write cover letter. Check for jobs. Eat. Go to bed. Is this your life? If so, I am sincerely sorry. The job hunt is important, but it’s also important to maintain a bit of balance in life. Are you married? Take a break and play with the kids or your wife. Go walk the dog. Go walk the roommates. Go do something. Maintaining balance is vital in keeping your stress to a healthy level.

Go Work for Burger King — Having employment of any type will help keep your day organized better. Whether you like it or not, it is probably better to have a morning job to avoid the temptation to sleep in. We are happier when we are working, even if that work is not the job you’ve dreamed about since second grade. Remember this: earning money increases endorphins. That’s not scientifically proven, but it sure sounds good.

About the Author
Derek Gurr is a writer for MyCollegesandCareers.com. My Colleges and Careers helps people determine if an online education is right for them and helps them understand which online colleges and online courses they can choose from to reach their goals.

Leisure — 1 comment
15
Jun 11

5 Reasons To Try Rock Climbing

Rock climbing is gaining popularity fast. Almost every major city has an indoor climbing gym, and some have half a dozen or more. Beginners are almost always welcome and most gyms are more than happy to help newcomers get into the climbing world get started safely and comfortably. Once you’ve got the basic skills you can go on to climbing real rock outdoors, or you can go straight outside with an instructor. Here are 5 good reasons to give it a try:

1. Challenge yourself. Beginner rock climbing is very safe but also quite scary. Most of us just aren’t used to being up high with nothing more than a single rope and harness for protection. Many people see their first rock climb and think ‘there’s no way I could get up there’. Climbing teaches us that these first self-limiting thoughts are often wrong, and we can do far more than we ever thought possible.

2. Experience some of the most beautiful views in the world. Outdoor climbing will take you to places walking and driving sightseers never get to go. You’ll see birds fly past underneath your feet and view spectacular mountain scenes from a whole new angle. The higher you go, the more you will see.

3. Connect with family members. It takes two to climb. You might be up there on your own but there is always someone on the other end of the rope, keeping you safe and encouraging you higher. A fall might be scary but that rope will catch you- climbing builds trust, and the shared challenge (it’s your partner’s turn next) creates a powerful bond. It’s a great way to build better, mutually respectful relationships with kids. Even the most cynical teenager can’t deny that rock climbing is pretty cool.

4. Enjoy getting fit. Minute for minute, rock climbing burns more calories than jogging. It works the arms, calves, and core muscles of the stomach and back, and helps improve balance and spatial awareness. If a normal gym workout bores you, taking up climbing can bring fun back into your exercise regime.

5. Build self-esteem. Getting to the top of the first route will give you a tremendous sense of achievement. When you start out there will be some routes you can do (most indoor climbing gyms have routes built for children from age 5 up) and some you can’t. Progress is fast. The tougher climbs will become easier and what felt impossibly difficult will come within reach. You’ll try new, harder climbs and learn to conquer them too. The sense of achievement never goes away- in fact, it’s one of the things that makes climbing so addictive.

Jess Spate has been a keen climber for more than a decade. It has taken her from the granite outcrops of Australia to the mountains of the French Alps. She has found inspiration, courage, and friends through climbing, and works for a climbing gear retailer.

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