rock climbing

Showing off a tight and toned upper body, check out this behind-the-scenes look of actress Lea Michele's workout for the Nike Training Club app (it's free!). Lea worked with Nike "Master Trainer" Marie Purvis to come up with a 15-minute total body workout for users of the app, which is currently available on the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. As is the case with all the Nike Training Club workouts, Lea's routine can be done just about anywhere. When asked about staying motivated, Lea said, "It's about finding things you enjoy, things that you love, and you'll find that you'll achieve your goals easier." For Lea, it's rock climbing, yoga, and hiking, which happen to be my favorites too.

I am pleased to introduce North Face athlete and champion rock climber Emily Harrington. Get to know her a bit better by watching this video of her deep water soloing in Mallorca, Spain. Emily will be guest blogging on FitSguar in February!

The Beginnings: Less structure, more diversity
I have been climbing for 14 years, since I was 10 years old. I started at an indoor climbing gym in Boulder that my dad took me to during the summer. I was previously a ski racer and gymnast, but liked climbing because it was a little less structured than team and school sports and more individual-focused. I have always enjoyed how diverse climbing can be. There are countless styles (i.e. outdoors: rock, ice, mountains, etc; and indoors: competitions) and it is a vehicle for traveling. I have been extremely fortunate in my career to be able to travel the world to compete and climb outdoors.

Fave Spots: Near and far
My favorite places to climb are Rifle, Colorado and the Red River Gorge in Kentucky; but I just recently returned from a trip to the Himalayan mountains in Nepal, where I taught Sherpa people climbing safety. The Himalayas offer and very different style of climbing (more big mountains — known as alpinism) that I have not yet explored, but it was one of the most powerful and inspiring places I have ever been to.

Inspiration: Exploration and evolution
I climb because it is more than a sport, it is a lifestyle that is never boring and ever-changing. There is so much to explore in this world through climbing and no challenge is ever the same. It changes and evolves with me as I grow and mature.

Check back next week for more on rock climbing from Emily. If skiing is more your thing, The North Face athlete Kit Deslauriers has tales from the mountains to share too.

Meet Sugar user ku002 and check out the fitness goals she posted in our Get Fit For 2011 community group. By doing so, she entered our weekly giveaway!

2011 Goals

1. Stretch every day! This can be in the form of a yoga class, a quick wake-me-up toe touch when I get out of bed, or a little pause in the workday (in the privacy of my office!). But every day I want to take a mindful moment to stretch and reflect on all the things my body can do for me.

2. Be more mindful about my physical activity. Some days I just zone out on the elliptical and don't get the work that I put the time in for. While this is fine some days (hello stress!), why waste my time if I'm just going to waste my time? On the flip side, I know my activity may not always be the healthiest decision. So I'd like to include some thought into each work out — outlining why I'm doing it and what I want to accomplish.

3. On that note . . . I'd like to run a 10K by September! 5K — check! Now let's step it up!

4. Have fun! With a new rock climbing class this Spring semester, I can't wait to get out there and ROCK IT!

Share your fitness and health goals for the New Year in the Get Fit For 2011 community group and enter to win our weekly prize: a $100 Nike gift card. We're also giving away a fabulous grand prize fitness package!

I had no idea that when I started rock climbing a few years ago that it would impact my life the way it does today. Besides being the number one way I stay in shape, it's taken me to some of the most beautiful places in the country and introduced me to people I would have never met otherwise. And, most importantly, it's taught me things that I apply to my everyday life. Rock climber or not, some of the core principles of the sport are valuable lessons that anyone can benefit from.

• Don't let go. When I first started climbing, I lacked cojones. If a climb seemed out of my reach, I let go and gave up instantly — not anymore. I've learned that in order to succeed, letting go is not an option; fear and feelings of inadequacy are totally normal in anything new or challenging. And while I may fall in my attempt to get better, I never let go.
• Trust your partner. Your climbing partner can be the difference between life and death — literally. Things fall apart when you start losing your cool with one another, and thrive when you genuinely have each other's best interest at heart. My climbing partner (see picture) does whatever is needed to make sure I succeed. This means a ton of encouragement, clear communication, constructive criticism, and watching out for my safety. Just like real life relationships, no?
• If you don't succeed at first, try a new approach. In climbing, there's usually more than one way to make it to the top — and what works for one person, might not work for another. For times when you feel like you've tried everything to make something work, get creative and start thinking outside of the box. And, don't ever be afraid to ask for help. I can't even count the number of climbs I've finished because my partner helped guide me along the way, or because I looked at the problem in a new way.

There's more! To find out what else I've learned, keep reading.

The cooler temps of Fall make it a perfect time to take advantage of the outdoors! Are you a climber, hiker, or camper? Do you have any pics or stories that you'd like to share about a trip you've taken? If so, get on over to the Women That Rock (Climb) group and start posting. I don't know about you, but there's nothing more inspiring for me than seeing other people's photos of a day spent outside. And hey, if you're a newbie, don't worry! The community group is a great place to ask questions about gear, places to climb, and the best way to train.

If you haven't checked out the group yet, take a look. There's some pretty great content being shared by our members, like Spacekatgal and her husband Spacekatdude telling us why they think indoor rock climbing makes the perfect date. GirlOverboard is just getting started and needs to know if Vibram KSOs are a good climbing shoe — can you help her out?

Some of the best stories and sound advice may find their way right here onto the FitSugar homepage, so get posting!

One person's fear is another's passion, at least when it comes to certain workouts. Whether you're adventurous or not, it's possible that a certain workout could strike fear into your heart. Here's a list of a few "extreme" workouts that people either love or hate:

• Rock climbing Sure, you may be completely safe and supported by ropes during your climb, but a fear of heights is a fear of heights!

• Mountain biking Challenging and intense, mountain biking makes for a great workout, but flying down a hill at full speed over rocky terrain could make a nervous biker feel unsafe.
• Trampoline, trapeze or other aerial arts Flying through the air with the greatest of ease or hurling yourself high into the air is the ultimate fun workout for some daredevils. Aerial workouts may be growing in popularity, but I know plenty of fit ladies who'd rather stay close to the ground.
• Boxing and kickboxing Kicking and punching a heavy object: stress relieving or too confrontational? Though there are plenty of days when working frustrations with this exercise seems mandatory, there are plenty of people who are turned off by its combative nature.

So, tell me: are there any exercises or workouts that scare you? Or any that you refuse to try?