How I Got into Climbing

According to my mom, I got into climbing at an early age - after realizing that I wasn't very good at it.

That was then, this is now.

In PE class at school, we had to do a fitness test and part of that test was to do a flexed arm hang (chin over the bar) for some number of seconds (I can't remember how many). Apparently I had problems with it, came home and asked my mom if we could get a pull up bar. She did me one better and got me a small jungle gym. I was off to the races. 

In high school, I went with some fellow students to a high ropes course (this is like an obstacle course except built in the trees). One of the elements required me to climb up a tree while holding using a rope to help me climb. I tried and tried, but I couldn't do it - already tired from the many elements that had come before. 

Many years later

And then a friend said to me "You have all the power in the world." It really hit me. Somehow I took that in and climbed the tree with no problem at all. That experience remains a powerful memory to this day.


I came to love climbing on ropes courses after that and spent many years as a facilitator helping others to face and address their own perceived physical limits. 

Doing what I love

I continue to challenge myself as I build skills on the flying trapeze and trampoline. And the wonderful opportunity I have to help others grow right along with me as an aerial conditioning instructor is bringing me even more insight and learning.

All of this to explain a bit how I came to this and where my roots are. For anyone who is struggling with your first pull up, stick with it. Work through a progression (see upcoming blog post) and keep trying. Recognize your mini-successes along the way and stay focused on your goal.


It's all about practice, commitment and time. We will all reach different places in our arts. I have no idea how far I will be able to go from that first chin up. But I will keep taking on new challenges and with commitment, practice and support, I hope to continue to grow and learn for a long time.