Pages Menu
Categories Menu

Posted by on Apr 7, 2014 in How I Started Climbing, Personal Stories | 2 comments

Climbing Helped Heal My Injury

Climbing Helped Heal My Injury

  Hello, my name is Jennifer and I am a single mother to Hannah a 12 year old climber! In 2012 I became ill, I didn’t know what was going on, but was told that I had some abnormal cells. I ended up having to have an emergency Hysterectomy. This surgery was a struggle for me, because I am a former Police Officer and have always maintained my fitness levels. Up to time I had surgery, I gained 35 pounds and this put me in a very low spot. I did not feel like doing much of anything! My doctor released me 3 weeks after surgery because I was in good shape but absolutely could not sit still… I started running everyday. I was determined to lose weight to fit back in my clothes. So, I decided to run a 5K. The night after the 5K, my shins were swollen and in pain. I decided once again to go to the doctor and the doctor told me I was...

Read More

Posted by on Mar 17, 2014 in Featured, How I Started Climbing, Personal Stories | 0 comments

I wasn’t hooked the first time

I wasn’t hooked the first time

Anticipation sinks me. Every time. When I was 10 and my family took a trip to the Caribbean, I stood on the edge of a well-known cliff-jumping spot, wringing my hands. “I really want to jump,” I told my dad. So do it, he said. I shook, cried, walked away, walked back, peered down. I’m terrified of heights. “I really want to jump!” I repeated. My mom stepped forward and took my hand. Dad reminded us to keep our arms at our sides as we leapt, so the impact wouldn’t hurt. We counted down and jumped – arms flung wide. Fifty feet of air stole my breath, and we hit the water. Years later my mom said she always made an effort to do scary things with us while we were young so we would grow up knowing it was okay to be brave. She said this very soon after I took up rock climbing, so, from my perspective, her methods worked. Still I am plagued by hesitation. Like...

Read More

Posted by on Mar 3, 2014 in Featured, How I Started Climbing, Personal Stories | 7 comments

The Making of a Rock Climbing Yogini

The Making of a Rock Climbing Yogini

Yoga and climbing just go together. It’s a beautiful symbiotic relationship. Both increase balance, core strength, flexibility and mental discipline through a series of fluid movements and holding contorted positions all the while breathing in a controlled rhythmic fashion. Plus, yoga has the added benefit of helping to prevent injury by stretching muscles and increasing range of motion. My yoga journey began 15 years ago with a VHS tape and a yoga mat. Growing tired of the gym and my step aerobics routine, I was looking for a low impact workout with a little bit of stress busting on the side. I read about Ali McGraw’s cinematically produced Yoga Mind & Body video in Shape Magazine. That seemed to be the ticket. I immediately fell in love with the video. At first I could barely keep up with the yoga, but the hypnotic soundtrack and white sand desert and blue sky backdrops kept me interested day after day. I knew with practice I’d get closer to being as bendy...

Read More