If you’re over 65, rock climbing probably isn’t the first activity that comes to mind when you think about staying fit. On the off chance it does, it’s easy to rule it out in favor of other activities that seem “safer” or more familiar. But is that instinct correct?

Climb Nittany, a local indoor climbing gym, is offering a five-week course called Classic Rockers. It’s designed exclusively for adults 65 and older to show that climbing is for anyone ready to move, think, and succeed.

It’s not uncommon for someone’s first impression of rock climbing to come from tales of daring and fearless climbers conquering terrifying feats. With movies such as Free Solo, where daredevil Alex Honnold scales the massive 3,000 ft. vertical wall of El Capitan without protection, it’s easy to associate the sport with the extreme.

Much of that risk can be limited through careful attention to risk management. Throughout the course at Climb Nittany, participants in Classic Rockers learn the standard skills climbers use to limit risk while climbing. The team of instructors will walk you through each step and reinforce what you’ve learned along the way, helping you feel confident climbing.

“We spend the first few sessions getting comfortable with safety routines until it’s second nature,” says Jake Tinklepaugh, Classic Rockers’ coach. “By the time participants finish the course, they’ll feel comfortable with the safety system and confident while climbing.”

While working up the wall, climbers wear harnesses attached to a rope. Another person, the belayer, holds the rope for the climber using what’s called a belay device. This ensures that if a climber falls, they stay roughly where they were—no big swings or drops.