I’ve been a personal trainer and climbing coach for over 30 years. I witnessed the incredible effect the first climbing gyms had on the progression of rock climbing. And I’ve seen rock gyms morph into centers of entertainment, socialization, co-working spaces, and general fitness. These advancements open up so much upward potential with the proper approach.
Here are my tips for getting the most out of your climbing gym, generated from decades of experience, observation, and questioning clients. My sincere hope is that it helps you improve your climbing ability and enjoyment of the sport, even in the midst of a busy adult life with all its inherent time constraints.
New to climbing gyms? Check out the climbing gym FAQs at the bottom.
Make It a Consistent Habit
![Bouldering only gym Crux Climbing Center](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2023/03/IMG_6464-700x467.jpg)
I cannot overemphasize the importance of consistency, especially as we get older. And I feel this is even more important as responsibilities put the full-court press on our efforts to maintain and advance our climbing and health.
Over 30 years and hundreds of clients, there is one undeniable truth. The most consistent improvements, over the longest duration, with the best eventual outcomes, have come from a routine that becomes ingrained as a habit. This means consistent training times and days, with a consistent and gradually progressing program.
This means blocking out those times and days with an unwavering commitment. Yes, life happens, but at least 80% of the time, in my estimation, you have to make those training sessions to reap the investment you made with your wallet on the gym membership and the promise you kept to yourself. This requires prioritization of this time according to how important your climbing and health are to you.
And again, from my experience, this time is exponentially more effective if it happens early in the day, either before work or before tackling other responsibilities. I’ve been there just as much as anyone; you have the best intentions to exercise or do anything else for yourself, but you check your email or “just get one thing out of the way,” and your day gets hijacked. If training at the climbing gym is a priority, then treat it as such and commit to doing it before other life tasks push it out.
I believe this adherence to a consistent and unwavering schedule is the largest contributor to the effective use of your climbing gym.
Have Session Goals, a Plan, and Time Constraints
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Join or Form a Training Group
![how to gym climb pointers questions new climber](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2019/04/Climbing-41.jpg)
Cluster Training, Health, and Social at the Climbing Gym
Final Thoughts on Making the Most of Your Climbing Gym
![The author's climbing gym training group: Make The Most of your Climbing Gym](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2023/08/IMG_0724-1-700x525.jpg)