Seattle Bouldering Project University District Classes: A Comprehensive Guide

The Seattle Bouldering Project (SBP) in the University District offers a diverse range of classes catering to various fitness levels and climbing aspirations. Located in the reimagined, historic University National Bank Building, SBP provides a dynamic and inclusive space where individuals can push their athletic boundaries and build community through movement. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced climber, SBP has something to offer. The fitness programming is built around the idea that challenges become more approachable when tackled together, fostering a supportive environment for all.

Fitness Classes

SBP's fitness classes are designed to be welcoming yet challenging, encouraging participants to explore their physical limits. These classes are generally for ages 14 and up and accommodate all fitness levels.

Circuit Training

Circuit training at SBP is a functional strength and conditioning class suitable for all levels. Each workout includes a progressive warm-up, an all-levels workout, and a cool-down. The workouts combine cardio and strength training elements.

Circuit Express: A fast-paced version of the standard circuit class, Circuit Express is designed for those on the go. This high-intensity, full-body workout packs a mix of cardio and strength training into a shorter timeframe.
Circuit Level 2: This class builds upon the foundations of the Circuit class, focusing on core stabilization and functional mobility. Instructors guide participants through exercises that strengthen and balance deep core muscles while promoting active ranges of motion to restore the body's natural posture.

Core

Core is a 30-minute group fitness workout aimed at strengthening the body from shoulders to knees. The variety of movements and positions allows for maximum effort while minimizing overuse. Each class can be customized, offering options to scale up or modify exercises as needed. You'll activate and strengthen all core aspects of your body, including shoulders, back, abdominals, and hips.

HIIT

This fast and fun 30-minute class boosts your heart rate and cardio endurance. You’ll start with a dynamic 5-minute warm up, followed by 20 minutes of High Intensity Interval Training, and end with a 5-minute cool down. Expect short rest times, a variety of movements, and accessible modifications to make HIIT an efficient and effective workout for all fitness levels.

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Barre

Barre is a low-impact, total-body workout that challenges participants both physically and mentally. It incorporates Pilates and ballet movements, along with isometric holds, bodyweight exercises, and light dumbbell work. This 45 minute workout takes inspiration from both Ballet and Pilates, focusing on core engagement and smaller movements paired with high repetitions to build endurance in your stabilizing muscles. You will shake, pulse and sweat while mobilizing and supporting your joints. This low-impact format is perfect for every body and supports any movement practice that you enjoy.

Handstand

These classes teach techniques to begin or further develop your handstand journey.

Move & Play

This class focuses on increasing adaptability and enjoyment of full-body movement through games, bodily awareness exercises, and new methods of physical expression. It emphasizes community building and fun.

Strength

Strength is SBP's signature fitness offering, integrating total body strength with functional movement. Coaches teach participants how to effectively use dumbbells, kettlebells, and medicine balls to build lean muscle in a 50-minute total-body workout. Strength offers you a complete fitness experience in 45 minutes. This full-body workout is designed to improve strength and endurance, in a fun and motivating environment. Each class features a full-body warm-up, heart pumping cardio, focused strength training and mobilizing cool-down. Each exercise can be modified to meet your individual needs, making it suitable for any experience level. This class is cross-training for every athletic pursuit, or a stand-alone program for your health and fitness. Build a solid foundation.

Functional Mobility Training

This 40-minute class aims to build tougher joints, improve movement, and prevent injury through functional mobility training.

Loaded Stretching

In this class you will increase your active range of motion and stabilize your joints. You will move through loaded stretching techniques that strengthen your end ranges of motion and increase your functional flexibility.

Climbing Classes

SBP offers a range of climbing classes designed to cater to different skill levels and interests. Climbing Is A Lifelong Path. Never Static - that’s how we grow.

Intro to Climbing

If you’re new to climbing or simply new to our spaces, this 45-minute class introduces you to our facility and equips you with the fundamentals needed to begin climbing. Our supportive, friendly staff will cover the basics like climbing safety, etiquette, and technique. Our goal for this class is to make sure you’re comfortable in the gym, comfortable climbing, and know how you can find success and fulfillment in your climbing journey at BP.

Beginner Bouldering Technique

Whether you’ve only climbed once or have been climbing for months, this 90-minute class is for yellow, red, and green climbers looking to learn the basic climbing techniques, skills, and strategies necessary to unlock new movements and challenges. This class will cover concepts such as footwork, balance, and mental strategy.

Intermediate Bouldering

This 90-minute class is for intermediate climbers who are working on the purple, orange, and black circuits (V3-V5). There are four topics that will be covered over four sessions. We encourage climbers to sign up for all four sessions (10% discount for 4-pack) or drop into the class that they think would benefit them most. There are four topics that we cover over four sessions: Day 1 - Footwork & Balance, Day 2 - Body Position and Creating Tension, Day 3 - Dynamic Climbing & Using Momentum, Day 4 - Route Reading and developing a Process. We encourage climbers to sign up for all four, or they can choose the class that they think would benefit them most. The class is run over the course of four weeks covering a few technical concepts each session with an emphasis on developing a growth mindset. The ability to go into more depth with each concept will help participants break through their plateaus.

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Intro to Top Rope

This 2-hour introductory level class is for those that want to climb higher than boulders have to offer. In this class you will learn how to tie a figure eight knot, how to use a GriGri, how to check an indoor top rope system, and gain the experience needed to start your top rope adventure. You will leave class with the skills needed to pass a top rope belay test.

Intro to Lead Climbing

Is top roping getting old? Do you want to take your rope climbing to the next level? Then this is the class for you! During this course you will learn how to lead climb and lead belay from our team of passionate and knowledgeable instructors.

Circuit Sessions

Circuit Sessions run every Tuesday night from 7-8pm. This hour long class for social climbers looking to meet other people in a fun atmosphere while learning about new ways to use our circuits. The sessions will be scalable to your skill level. Whether you are climbing yellows or projecting whites, you will be able to participate and see growth. This is an open series; registration is not required, and no need to have participated in prior sessions.

Adult Team

Adult team is a place for motivated and committed individuals to learn new skills that will help accomplish their goals while building a culture of inspiration and accountability. Our coaches introduce athletes to mental training, skill development and physical training concepts in a fun and playful atmosphere. Our community level team meets once a week on Sunday evenings 6:00-8:00pm. Our competition/performance level team meets twice a week: Sunday evenings 6:00-8:00pm and Wednesday mornings 6:30-8:30am.

Instructors

SBP's classes are led by a team of experienced and passionate instructors:

Tyler: An experienced group fitness instructor and 200-E-RYT yoga instructor with over 1,500 teaching hours. Tyler is DC Bouldering Project’s Yoga & Fitness Manager.
Diamond: A certified Personal Trainer N.S.C.A and certified low back specialist with a B.S. in Human Performance Sports Science and a minor in Nutrition. Diamond specializes in Strength and Conditioning, Weight loss, Women’s health and Nutrition, with a fitness approach centered on "movement is medicine."
Joe: A certified personal trainer, group fitness instructor, and boxing coach.
Kerry: An ACE-certified group fitness instructor specializing in high-energy workouts, dedicated to creating welcoming and inclusive classes.
Coach Byrd: A veteran of the United States Marine Corps with experience leading and training Marines.
Lindsay: Has been teaching group fitness classes since 2019, matching active movement with the driving force of music.
Sarah Strupp-Levitsky: A group fitness instructor with over 8 years of experience teaching a variety of fitness classes.

Facility

The Seattle Bouldering Project University District is located in the historic University National Bank Building. The space has been reimagined to include bouldering terrain in the former ballroom and an infrared sauna in the old bank vault.

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