What to Expect When You Boulder for the First…

March 5, 2018April 15, 2018
by Boulder Movement

Ever wondered what it’s like to go bouldering for the first time? Never fear, it’s nowhere near as daunting as you might think!

Take our hand as we walk you through what a first visit to the Boulder Movement is like – from start to finish. We must warn you though, this might be the start of a lifelong addiction!

1. The environment

The first thing you’ll notice when you walk into the Boulder Movement is the atmosphere. Cosy and welcoming, we fuel great vibes with great music. No wonder our regulars keep coming back!

There’s no need to keep hauling your gear around. Store your bag in any one of the lockers and shelves that are available, then grab a seat to soak it all in. There’ll be others climbing and catching up with their friends. Always something to see and someone to talk to!

2. The sign-in process

Now it’s time to sign in, and there are two ways you can do that: Entry Passes and Class Passes.

Entry passes give you access to an unlimited number of climbing hours in one day. To use an entry pass, you can either walk in and purchase it at the counter or buy it online. For online purchases, you’ll have to sign your waiver online. This may sound tedious to some, but it means that you’ll have a shorter sign-in process once you actually arrive at the gym!

Class Passes give you access to any of our bouldering classes such as Fundamentals of Bouldering, Intermediate Bouldering and Strength for Bouldering. If you’d like to attend these classes, you must book beforehand. Simply purchase a class pass here then sign the waiver form online.

3. The gear

Before you go splurging all your money on brand spanking new gear, hold up! Whether you need climbing shoes, socks, a towel or a chalk bag, we’ve got you covered as we have them available for rent.

Now if you’re a BM citizen, you’ll have the extra convenient benefit of our free shoe concierge service. Basically, we do the dirty work of cleaning and storing your climbing shoes so you don’t have to. Just rock up and they’ll be good to go!

4. The climb

If you’re a first-timer, you’ll want to attend our Basics of Bouldering class. It’ll teach you how to get started, how to fall and how to follow standard safety procedures. It’ll also set the groundwork so that you can one day move onto our Fundamentals of Bouldering and Intermediate Bouldering classes.

Expect to hear cheers, claps and shouts of encouragement when you’re trying to crack a hard route. And when you’ve actually conquered one…well, we don’t want to spoil that for you. You’ll have to experience it for yourself! Just know that everyone is there to bring you up rather than pull you down. It’s about having fun and reaching our potential, together.

5. The workout zone

While we offer general fitness classes for climbers, the workout zone is also available for you to do your own thing. We’ve kitted the place out with a full range of weights, a fitness rig, yoga mats, bosu balls and much more.

Simply head on over to run through your warm up or cool down routine. Or if your muscles are still yearning for more after your climb, sneak in a few strengthening exercises!

6. The clean up

Towels, showers, toiletries and hair dryers – we provide you with all the tools you need to get freshened up after your climb. Whether you need to return to the office after your lunchtime workout or head out for an evening catch up with friends, people will never know where you just came from!

So that’s it. That’s what a first visit to the Boulder Movement is like. But don’t take our word for it – try it for yourself! We’re currently offering UNLIMITED trials for a limited time only – 1 week for $45 and 2 weeks for $65 (U.P $88). Take the leap before the offer runs out: www.boulderm.com/promotion

Blog

Bad Fitness Habits You Need to Kick This Year

January 29, 2018January 30, 2018
by Boulder Movement

Bad Fitness Habits You Need to Kick This Year!

Bad fitness habits – we all have them and most of the time, we don’t even know it until someone or something bursts our bubble!

However, it doesn’t have to be that way. Being honest with ourselves is the first step to avoiding the fruits of our bad habits and transforming them into good ones. And what better time to do that than with 2018 just beginning to warm up?

Here are 6 bad fitness habits that could be holding you back or even worse, leading you to an injury! If you’re currently doing any one of them, make this the year that you give them the kick. Your body will thank you for it!

1. Doing the same thing over and over again

Becoming a workout robot is comfortable and easy. Just do the same thing over and over again, day in, day out! It isn’t a smart way to exercise though as it leads to plateaus and overuse injuries.

To avoid both of these situations, remember to change your routine every two to three weeks. This could be as simple as tweaking the number of sets, reps and weights. Experimenting with other activities such as HIIT, yoga, dance and climbing will also challenge and train your body to be more well-rounded.

2. Poor form and technique

Having to stop training altogether due to injury is the best way to ensure that you do not reach your fitness goals. Going hard in a session is important but it’s pointless if it’s with poor form and technique. While you may not feel the consequences in the moment, that doesn’t mean that they won’t catch up to you at some point in the future.

If you are just beginning to work out or are looking to correct your form, take it slow and get each and every rep right. Exercising with a friend or personal trainer will help you to ensure that you are working out the right muscles with good breathing and posture.

3. Losing focus

When you arrive at the gym, park, track or pool, it’s go time. As fun as it is to socialise and take Instagram selfies, that’s not why you’re there! You’re there to work out and going at it at 50% is just a waste of your time and energy.

Make each session short and intense, keep the phone away and give it your all. These things may seem small, but they will maximise your workouts and your results. You’ll also have more time for socialising and taking selfies afterwards!

4. Making up your workouts on the spot

It may feel convenient to figure out your workout every time you rock up to the gym. It may even make you feel smart. However, it’s a poor way to reach your fitness goals because whether your goal is for more strength, mass or agility, you need a plan to get there.

Put in the time and effort to develop and follow a training regimen. For example, if you want improve your climbing abilities, follow a fitness schedule that includes exercises geared towards climbing. It’ll take out the guesswork and ensure that everything you are doing is moving you in the right direction. It’ll also enable you to keep a training diary to track your progress and make tweaks along the way.

5. Warming up and down incorrectly or not at all

Let’s face it, most people don’t warm up nor down, and even if they do, they do it incorrectly. Contrary to popular belief, static stretching is best done after your workout – once your muscles have already warmed up.

A 5 to 10 minute dynamic stretching routine involving exercises such as jump rope or butt kicks is much better when preparing for a workout. They’ll stimulate your nervous system and give your muscles a chance to warm up for the upcoming activity.

6. Ignoring your diet

Working out doesn’t give you a license to eat poorly. While you can lose weight with exercise, it won’t happen if what you eat counteracts what you expend in your workouts. Likewise, you can’t expect to gain mass unless you increase your food intake.

The diet that you follow will vary on many factors including your body and your fitness goals, however, it should always be nourishing enough to refuel your body and assist in muscle recovery so that you are ready to kick butt at your next workout!

It’s not all about kicking bad fitness habits though – it’s about developing good ones too such as climbing! We’re currently offering a free waiver (worth $98) when you sign up to be a BM Citizen. It’s for a limited time only though, so get in quick!