There are many nontraditional ways to exercise, such as rock climbing and simulated surfing. Sessions Climbing is a rock-climbing fitness center and facility that provides rock-climbing instructions and guides, and the company is currently working on opening an indoor rock-climbing facility.

Albert Alvarez, an employee at Sessions Climbing, said he rock climbs as often as he can.

“I don’t even go to the gym because I climb four to five times a week,” Alvarez said. “It’s fun and it helps me push my physical and mental limits.”

Dylan Flugee, junior mechanical engineering major, said he rock climbs twice a week at an indoor facility.

“It’s great for your hands,” Flugee said. “The wall looks like a legit rock wall and it’s hard, but once you’re up there, you’re up there.”

Rock climbing requires a full body workout and can help develop cognitive thinking and problem solving.

“It helps develop your abdomen and leg muscles, as well as your thinking skills,” Alvarez said. “There’s no manual when you are rock climbing in the real world, and you have to find the best way to position yourself.”

Over time, rock climbing can help strengthen the core and back and shoulder muscles as the climbing progresses.

Aaron Ibarra, junior pre-pharmacy major, said rock climbing can be good for your health because it requires upper and lower body strength.

“It exercises your brain because you have to coordinate where you are going to go next and how you are going to get there,” Ibarra said.

Another unique way to get fit is through simulated surfing. Surf-In Fit El Paso is a workout studio inspired by surfing that is dedicated to helping its patrons get in shape.

The studio features multiple surfboards that simulate surfing on a variety of waves. Surfing requires the use of multiple muscles.

“In simulated surfing, I would say we are utilizing our leg muscles a lot more,” said Erika Williams, employee at Surf-In Fit. “Your quads and glutes are the most engaged during a surf-in fit workout.”

Regular surfing requires the arm and shoulder muscles, for when paddling out from shore, the leg muscles for standing and maneuvering the board and the abdominal muscles for balance. Simulated surfing requires the use of your shoulder, back and abdominal muscles.

“After a couple of workouts you can already notice a definition in the shoulder area,” Williams said. “Of course we transition muscles with the type of workout, but these are the main muscles it targets.”

Surf-In Fit is located at 1239 Lafayette. They are open Monday through Friday, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m.-10 a.m. For more information, call 479-7982.

Sessions Climbing provides training, information and guides for anyone interested in rock climbing. All guides are certified by the American Mountain Guides Association. Sessions Climbing is located at 209 Noble St. For more information, call 915-443-0340 or visit their Facebook page.

Julia Hettiger can be reached at [email protected].