Mind-body connection and economy of movement
Problem selection & preparation:
Before climbing, pick 1-3 spots on a route that you plan to practice the drill on. Start with easier-looking spots to make the drill easier; as you progress, choose harder-looking spots to really practice relaxing and resetting. Visualize your sequence so you have a rough idea of the body position you’ll be in on those holds.
Climbing:
When you reach the target hold/holds, stop moving. Follow these steps:
- Reset. Relax your arms and breathe. You can have both hands on, or shake one hand at a time during the drill. Look down and spot your feet and any footholds available. You can move your feet if the other feet seem better.
- Relax. Take your time in this position until you notice your psychological arousal level has lowered. Your breathing may be less intense, and you may notice your heart rate has come down. This may take a few seconds or a few minutes depending on the climb.
- Attack. Take a few sharp aggressive breaths and look back up at the route. Your arousal level should go back up. Leave the rest with some aggression and speed. The goal is to maintain that aggression until the next rest stance or the anchors.
Combination:
This is a general session and can be combined with most climbing sessions. Perform after warming up and before conditioning.