Yoga & Climbing

Training the Mind & using the breath
Climbing challenges you on many levels; physically and emotionally. Fear, uncertainty and frustration are all part of the process on the wall. Yoga - especially Meditation, Pranayama, Mindfulness and other awareness and breathing practices, train emotional regulation and the mind to stay focused and grounded in challenging situations. Breathing techniques & Pranayama allow us to influence our heartrate, which can be useful in resting positions. Inhaling can support slower & focused movements on the wall, while exhaling can support powerful movements in overhangs (see here).

Mobility: Strength at the Edges of Your Range
Many people have the impression that yoga only is passive flexibility training in poses. This is a misconception, as physcial postures (Asanas) are just a small part of Yoga. Also, many postures involve the isometric contraction of muscles (Bandhas) and active holds.
Adding specific mobility work brings in another important element: building strength and control at the edges of your range of motion. This helps prevent injuries and makes flexibility actually usable in movement (more info).

The Key and Bottleneck for many Climbers
An example for climbers: Imagine a high foothold. Reaching this foothold using only your own strength you need 50% flexibility and 50% strength to lift your leg to the maximum of your range and place the foot. Many people lack one or the other, preventing them from accessing their full potential on the wall.

Climbing was what first sparked my interest in mobility. But combining Yoga, climbing and mobility felt like connecting the dots :-)