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News & resources from the team at Strong Mind

Join our Newsletter called 'Thought of the Week'! 
Every week Hazel (or one of our other team members) reaches out with insights, tools, discussions and reflective questions that will get you thinking about your mind in climbing.

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Mindfulness and compassion techniques for regaining composure in climbing

Climb what you can today, not what you think you ‘should’ be able to

“Good” emotions, “Bad” emotions, and everything in between

Different approaches to emotional regulation (emotional reconstruction) in climbing

Fear of Other People’s Opinions

This article reflects on fear of other people's opinions and how that impacts our climbing.

Heartmind, Technique, Body: applying an integrated martial arts pedagogy to climbing

In this article, we examine several mindset-related concepts taken from the Zen philosophy of Japanese martial arts and consider their application to climbing.

Performance Hacks - FAQS

We've laid out in this article some of the common questions we've received about Performance Hacks which is now available all year round.

19 Rock Climbing Gifts They’ll Love (2023 Gift Guide)

Buying rock climbing gifts can be quite tricky: how do you know your favourite climber is into a given discipline, and how do you know they actually need that bit of kit? That’s why we decided to put together this 2023 gift guide with rock climbing gifts (and gifts for other types of climbers) that they will love and actually use.

Sport vs Trad Climbing: Differences and Similarities

If you’re new to climbing, there are lots of strange terms and different styles of climbing that might seem confusing, but the distinction between sport and trad is really an important one.

Mindfulness and compassion techniques for regaining composure in climbing

Climb what you can today, not what you think you ‘should’ be able to

Flow: the basics

This intriguing mental state describes everything about optimal climbing performance, and our best experiences.

Fear Revealed: Climbing Blind

GB paraclimber and rock climber Jesse Dufton is one of the only blind climbers out there who is regularly onsighting adventurous trad climbs (Jesse dubs this style ‘non-sighting’). Hazel talks to Jesse to reveal how he overcomes fear when climbing.

Hazel chats to Aidan Roberts about climbing Alphane 9A

Aidan Roberts recently climbed Alphane, a 9A boulder in Chironico Switzerland. As Aidan has also been doing one-to-one performance coaching with me (Hazel), I caught up with him to hear his reflections on the process of climbing Alphane from a psychological perspective.

Perfectionism

Perfectionism is a widely used term, and it’s often thought of as a positive thing. In fact, for many, it's even thought of as a necessary character trait for someone to be successful. You might even have heard people offer "perfectionism" as a humble-brag answer in response to "What is your greatest weakness?". The reality is quite different and might fly in the face of this common wisdom.

Can meditation and mindfulness make us better climbers?

Mindfulness and meditation can positively impact our well-being, but can also improve our climbing performance in more ways than one. In this article, we'll explore how meditation and mindfulness might improve our climbing and how you could benefit from having a mindfulness practice.

Visualisation for bold climbing

I’ve enjoyed the process of bold climbing ever since I became a climber. I’ve always been drawn to the psychological challenge, what bold climbing can teach me about myself and [in particular] the headspace required to be calm and in-control in a high-consequence situation.

Curiosity over Conquering

Laura Tiefenthaler, doctor, mountain guide, and alpinist, was the second woman to solo the North Face of the Eiger. How does she recognise her motivations and get in the right mindset for such a challenge?

Where do people go wrong with fall practice?

Fall practice is a tricky area in climbing. Apart from being neglected or completely overlooked, it’s often done badly. There are common misconceptions about fall practice and a few conventions in the climbing world that lead climbers against the principles we can learn from science. Not only is a bad fall practice less effective, it’s more dangerous, can often ingrain fear and perpetuates the idea that we can’t or shouldn't train our minds for climbing (or falling!).

What are some important types of ‘Mindset’?

In this article, we break down four types of mindset that if applied, can benefit your climbing.

What is Mindset and how can you work on it?

In many cases, mindsets do not change overnight but they shift slowly in one direction. In terms of changing behaviour and thinking patterns, making sure that we are part of the decision-making process and recognising the things that are within our control can be enough to begin the shift to a better mindset.

Why does climbing feel harder when we are scared? And what are affordances?

Given that stress affects our affordances, it’s important that we understand how to manage and train our minds for climbing – for our performance if not for our enjoyment and wellbeing too! This is what mental training is all about.

Is trying to calm down really helpful?

How reframing your anxiety into excitement can boost your performance

Solo Expeditions and Mental Training

Expedition runner Jenny Tough runs solo across mountains, braving bears, ice and remote peaks. How does she face her fears and keep on going?

What is the Strong Mind Course for climbers?

The Strong Mind Course for climbers in mental training and fear management. Join Hazel Findlay and Angus Kille as they walk you through the tools, strategies, mindset shifts and practices so that you can leave your anxiety on the ground and climb harder, better and have more fun.

The Power of Trying Hard

Have you ever had the feeling that only sheer will power has kept you on the rock? Perhaps you weren’t even on great form, you’d been stressed or a nagging injury was affecting your climbing, but you sent a route at your limit—not because you floated up it, or got into flow state, but because you tried really hard. It can feel like you tap into a new level of determination—or your body takes over and you let everything else go—and somehow find yourself on the finishing holds.

Why the distinction between rational and irrational fear isn't that helpful

In this blog we discuss why making the distinction between rational and irrational fear or real and perceived risk isn't that helpful.

Hazel answers common questions about mental training for climbing and the Strong Mind course

Hazel answers common questions about mental training for climbing and the Strong Mind course

Magic Line and the psychological challenge of projecting

Hazel talks about her experience projecting the route Magic Line and the mental training she needed not only to succeed but also to enjoy the whole process. If you’re interested in projecting, fear of failure, how to stay present in a process or related ideas you'll enjoy this piece!

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