Few people can literally describe their lives in terms of yin and yang.

Fountain Hills resident Matt Johnson is one.

As a pianist and a rock climber, he experiences the intensity of outdoor physical activities along with the more mellow art of music. Both activities, however, require serious thinking and attentiveness.

Climbing is something Johnson started doing when his family moved to Flagstaff from the Midwest. He became involved in as many outdoor activities as were out there, finding a passion for being outside.

“I really have a passion both for music and outdoor activities,” Johnson said. “Each gives me something different, but each provides me with great pleasure.”

Johnson has carved out a comfortable life taking advantage of time off from music to be outdoors. He plays in two bands, as well as accompanying singers. The bands, JJ’s Band, a high-end wedding and corporate event cover band; and Priminition, another cover band that plays casinos and other venues, take care of his weekends. He usually rehearses on Wednesdays.

But during the week, he has ample time to spend climbing, river running and enjoying nature.

He is a “free climber,” which means he uses ropes and other technical gear in the sport. There also is “aid climbing,” which uses gear differently, primarily as safety and to catch you if you fall, Johnson said.

“Free solo” climbing is using no equipment to climb faces of mountains.

Alex Honnold made history in June by free soloing Yosemite’s 3,000-foot El Capitan.

Asked if he does free soloing, Johnson said “I have way too much to lose.”

He has a daughter who is a junior at Fountain Hills High School.

“I just wouldn’t risk it,” he said.

Climbing provides a type of meditation, according to Johnson.

“You have to be really focused on your next move, and the next, and the next,” he said. “You focus your mind really sharply, and you don’t have any room to worry about the stuff running around in your brain.”

He added that there is a level of fear that goes with climbing, and the climber has to contend with that.

“You learn to compartmentalize things as you ascend,” he said. “There is value to learning how to do that. It really is so good for you.”

Johnson has climbed in a variety of places in the west. He says he knows Arizona as few people do.

“I’m kind of an ambassador for the state,” he said. “This is just an amazing place, and I love showing it to people.”

He loves the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River, has spent a lot of time in Glen Canyon, on the Salt and Verde rivers and exploring the state. He has climbed in Yosemite and Zion national parks.

“I have been really fortunate,” he said.

He added that on his last birthday in January, he made a conscious decision to live the rest of his life doing things he loves with the people he loves.

“I decided that more than money, I wanted time,” he said. “Time is the one thing we have we can’t get more of. I don’t have a lot of money, but I don’t need a lot of money. I kind of want to chug deeply from the bottle of life.”

Johnson invited people interested in climbing or in music to reach out to him on Facebook.

“I really do like to interact with new people who want to get involved in these things,” he said. “I love to help people.”