How some University students find mindfulness while climbing the big wall
By Emma Morris
When thinking about rock climbing, the first thought that comes to mind for many people is how scary or dangerous it seems to be climbing hundreds of feet in the air with only a rope, or how some climb routes without a rope, known as “free soloing.” Even I find myself a little wary of bolder problems that get into “highball” territory, meaning that they’re taller than the average boulder, and falling can have bigger consequences.
Many that do not climb have these thoughts, but even many climbers, including me, have them on the wall or out on the rocks. When climbing challenging routes, boulder problems, or the “spray wall,” I asked some University of Minnesota students how they use mindfulness during their ascents to avoid panicking and to help achieve a flow state.
Speaking to Athens Dress, they discussed simply focusing on the climb. “It’s hard to think of much else when you’re sending a hard climb.” Their tip for approaching a climb was to have a clean slate and focusing on your movements.
Caitlyn Komar, another student as well as a member of the climbing team, has a bit of a different approach to mindfulness when on the wall. “Before I make big moves, I actually think about my breathing, which I never do.” She discussed how breathing exercises weren’t typically in her day-to-day life, but when a challenging boulder problem comes up, or any difficult climb for that matter, focusing on her breathing helps achieve a clear and focused state of mind.
There are so many ways to achieve mindfulness and find your flow when trying a climb, and you can reach for those techniques at any point during a session.