Better than the gym—3 reasons this Huntsville local chooses climbing for her workout

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After moving to The Rocket City from New Orleans, Olivia Oxford has been a regular climber at  High Point Climbing and Fitness for just over a year.

We caught up with Olivia to hear how climbing introduced her to unique workouts and a supportive community. Here’s what we learned.

1. Climbing works muscles that aren’t usually engaged

Unlike a regular gym filled with equipment like treadmills and weights, climbing gyms offer a unique exercise experience. As Olivia told us, she prioritizes climbing as part of her workout regimen because it strengthens many muscles that aren’t typically engaged.

“I’ll take you back to the first time I ever went climbing. The next day, I was incredibly sore, almost to the point of aches. I was activating muscles that had never been activated through workouts such as lifting weights, the gym or other activities.

What is unique about climbing is that you have the chance to strengthen little muscles in your hands, and other less-engaged muscles in your feet and legs.”

Olivia Oxford, Member at High Point Climbing and Fitness

Climbing is a full-body workout, working your body from the tiniest muscles in your fingers to your legs and core.

2. Climbing is a mental workout

According to Olivia, climbing is as mental as it is physical. At High Point, courses are rotated regularly so that once you master a course, they change it and you have a new challenge to tackle.

For Olivia, who was afraid of heights for most of her life, mastering new courses at High Point helped bolster her confidence and allowed her to become more comfortable taking risks.

“Something that I love about climbing is that you have to work with what’s in front of you. You might work on mastering a climb for two, three or four weeks, and then all of the sudden there’s a new challenge to overcome.

I take that mindset into my own life—work on what’s in front of you and focus on the climb. You can truly tap into the benefits of the sport on a physical level, but also what the sport can do for you mentally.”

Olivia Oxford, Member at High Point Climbing and Fitness

3. It builds confidence + fosters community

At High Point, climbing is often a collaborative sport. Types of climbing like top-rope require a buddy to belay, or hold your slack line at the bottom, for you. (There’s also the option to auto-belay, which you can do on your own.)

Whether you’re looking to expand your local community or you’re a less-experienced climber wanting to “learn the ropes”, teamwork is huge in the climbing community. It can be anything from a helping hand to finding a new friend.

“You can walk into High Point solo and almost always run into a friend. This community is fantastic. Don’t be shy to say hello to someone, and if you see someone do something cool, ask them how they did it. ‘How did you get your foot there? How did you reach that?‘

I’ve come here by myself, with my husband, with friends and family and have always been met with kindness and an open mind.”

Olivia Oxford, Member at High Point Climbing and Fitness

More reasons to get involved at High Point

Even if you’re like me and find the thought of climbing a bit intimidating, there are many ways to get active at High Point.

• There is something for all levels of climbers, from beginner to expert.
• You can do more than climb at High Point, including:
  • Yoga classes
  • Fully stocked weight and cardio rooms
  • Group fitness classes + more
• If you need help, you can always rely on friendly staff + helpful community members for a hand.

High Point Mid-City: 1020 Nunnahsae, N Park Dr NW, Huntsville, AL 35806

High Point Lincoln Mill: 1300 Meridian St N Unit D400, Huntsville, AL 35801

Ready to get climbing, Huntsville? Check out their website to visit or become a member.

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