So stoked to hear you found bouldering and it works for you! A proper warm up can really make the difference in your performance and will help prevent injury, so I am glad you asked about it. Before you start any activity, it is great to get the heart pumping and the blood flowing a little bit. Try jumping rope, doing jumping jacks or any aerobic exercise for a few minutes. After the blood is flowing, do some arm circles, forwards and backwards, and then do a full body stretch.
If you are unfamiliar with stretching, I highly suggest getting a book to teach you about proper technique. Stretching with the proper technique can be the difference between preventing injury and causing it, so it is very important to learn how to stretch properly at a young age.After you are nice and limber, you can start bouldering, but only climb the problems that are very easy for you. After you have done a few climbs that are easy and well within your climbing ability, you should feel your climbing muscles being worked out but not enough to make you tired. You are now warmed up and ready to climb hard. Remember these steps: get the heart pumping a bit, stretch it all out, climb easy, and then climb hard. Hope this helps and have fun!
Bio:
Stephen
Spaeth is a four time All-American athlete and has taught hundreds of
people how to swim, play water polo, kiteboard, and rock climb. He
recently co-founded Brooklyn Boulders, NYC’s only dedicated rock
climbing facility, and can be found spending his free time rock
climbing, heliboarding and surfing hurricane swell.
