What is the woman trying to do?

W: Clive, did you see the movie on Channel 6 last night?
M: No. I missed it. I went shopping for clothes.
W: It was an excellent film. It had been made especially for rock-climbing, you know.
M: I read something about it in yesterday’s newspaper and had hoped to watch it last night, but then Rose called me to go shopping with her. So I went.
W: OK, have you chosen a physical education class yet for this term?
M: No, why?
W: You’ve got to take rock-climbing. We just had the first class and it seems to be great.
M: You think I should take rock-climbing? You must be kidding. Besides, how can they teach rock-climbing when it’s completely flat around here?
W: That’s not important. You can’t just start climbing without any training. You had to get in shape, learn how to use the ropes, the belts. There’s a lot of preparation first.
M: You don’t think it’s just a little bit dangerous?
W: Not if you know how to use the safety equipment, which is, by the way, pretty hi-tech.  The ropes are made of fabrics that stretch a little, the shoes have special drapes on the bottom and the helmets are made of some kind of special plastic. You have to learn how to use all these before you do any real climbing.
M: Well, you mean we’ll spend the whole term studying something we don’t actually get to do.
W: We’ll take a climbing trip during the spring break. But that’s not the point. Climbing is not the only goal. In preparing to climb you learn patience, mental discipline and you gain fantastic physical strength, especially in your hands. For the first few weeks we’re going to concentrate entirely on hand and upper body exercises.
M: All that in one sport? Maybe you’re right. Since it’s not too late to join the class, maybe I will.