It’s hard not to be mesmerized by rock climbers as they move up a wall with equal parts power, precision, and calm. Their bodies seem to defy gravity—but what’s happening inside them may be even more remarkable.

“Rock climbing fires every system of the body and mind,” says Pete Rohleder, a kinesiologist at Kansas State University. “It engages nearly every muscle, challenges your cardiovascular system, and requires laser-focused problem-solving all at once. Add in the rush of thrill-seeking and the satisfaction of overcoming challenge, and you get a powerful blend of physical benefit, psychological transformation, and positive emotional reward.”

Ulyana Nadia Horodyskyj , a National Geographic Explorer and avid climber for nearly two decades, agrees. “For me, climbing is meditation in mot

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