{"id":2944,"date":"2020-04-13T11:21:00","date_gmt":"2020-04-13T17:21:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.voile.com\/blog\/?p=2944"},"modified":"2020-04-16T12:58:20","modified_gmt":"2020-04-16T18:58:20","slug":"meditation-for-enhancing-splitboard-mountaineering","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.voile.com\/blog\/meditation-for-enhancing-splitboard-mountaineering\/","title":{"rendered":"Meditations to Enhance Your Mountaineering Experience"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Meditation and mountaineering are more connected than you may think. When I am climbing mountains on my splitboard, I\u2019ve realized that my attitude and thoughts influence how far and how fast I can go. I also notice how much better I feel after taking the time to meditate before and\/or after a day of peak bagging. Exploring the validity of meditation, visualization, and breath work has been fascinating me for more than a decade. But what I find really interesting is how it affects successfully climbing mountains, the influence it has on recovery, and if it can determine how much endurance I have. As a yoga teacher and professional snow slasher with a drive towards rugged mountains, I\u2019m honored to share this fascination with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meditation was intended as a spiritual practice for monks and nuns as a way to tap into a deeper understanding of the human to the divine. When we practice meditation we learn to momentarily detach from the environment so that we can channel our focus to one point. The consistent chatter of the mind fades out of our awareness and the only thing left is the present moment. Eventually, this ability to focus the mind eases our superficial suffering caused by our attachment to how we thought things should be. We start to learn to accept things as they are. Mountaineering is also known to sever this attachment because it requires us to be in-tune and focused. We aren\u2019t able to think about how a trivial life situation should be while also riding a committing line. Our survival instinct requires us to focus and the result is a pure, in-the-moment-flow, that many of us come back to the mountains for over and over. Commonalities between meditation and splitboard mountaineering align in the subtleties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Observe and Choose<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Basic meditation is simply learning to observe our thoughts and become aware. By learning to observe rather than react, we are enabled to choose which thoughts we want to react to and which ones to let go. We can then make informed decisions about our environment and monitor our emotional attachments. You can achieve this by simply sitting with yourself and paying attention to your own thought pathways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Wasatch Mountains, Utah. Photo: Adam Clark<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Positive Mental Imagery<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Many have experienced this behind the scenes, professional skier & worldwide mountaineer, Andrew McLean said, \u201c I do firmly believe in positive mental imagery \u2013 you have to see yourself succeeding.\u201d  From the book, Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills<\/a>, the author offers us this truth: \u201cMorale is intangible, but it makes a party stronger. Morale is often the deciding factor in party\u2019s success, and it is always the deciding factor in making the climb enjoyable. Morale is everybody\u2019s job.\u201d We ultimately have complete control of our moral and it contributes to the group dynamic immensely. The challenge is in accepting full responsibility for it and meditation is a way to gain that skill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mantras<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Mantras are statements, that when repeated over and over, help us hold a specific thought in the mind. I have found mantras boost my moral and positive mental imagery. If we choose to hold thoughts like, \u201cthis hurts,\u201d \u201cI\u2019m beat,\u201d \u201cI can\u2019t go on,\u201d then we will create that result for ourselves. On the other hand, \u201cthis is making me stronger,\u201d \u201cI\u2019m so thankful I have opportunity to do this,\u201d \u201cI will get there,\u201d or one of my favorites, \u201cit is what it is,” then that becomes our reality and that vibe contributes to our success. Meditation is training our minds to monitor and realize these pathways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Wasatch Mountains, Utah. Photo: Adam Clark<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Suffer-fest<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Life is suffering- one of Buddhism\u2019s four noble truths. More applicably, splitboarding up a huge mountain with intent to ride it doesn\u2019t happen without a fair amount of endurance suffering. Some expeditions can even be deemed a \u201csuffer-fest\u201d and we put ourselves through grueling long hours to achieve the summit we\u2019ve appointed as a worthy accomplishment. Even when it is intense and painful we push on. When we exercise at this level our bodies make all kinds of extra chemicals. It is in this chemical response that we can scientifically prove the benefits meditation can offer a splitboard mountaineer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Science Behind the Psyche<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

While climbing we burn up oxygen faster producing more oxidative stress on our cells with the chemical cortisol. Our ph levels also become more acidic, according to a study out of Washington University. Obviously, this is not the only thing happening in our bodies; otherwise no one would exercise willingly. There is enjoyment that comes from the \u201csuffer-fest\u201d; some sort of strange pleasure. One aspect of this pleasure comes from a chemical called dopamine.  Our bodies make dopamine and endorphins as we exercise and these chemicals usually result in feeling good. Depending on how a person\u2019s chemical stew is on a base level, these feel good chemicals can even become addicting and contribute to their drive to stay active.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a long day on the mountain our bodies also make recovery chemical called melatonin. According to a Study conducted by the Department of Experimental Medicine and Public Health at the University of Camerino, you can help increase your gusto in the hills with meditation because it creates more of the chemical melatonin. Simply by looking into the work of Wim Hoff, many of these points are now verified through science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Wasatch Mountains, Utah. Photo: Adam Clark<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Post-ride Melatonin<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In the UC study, 16 athletes where put into two groups. Both groups went through an intense 8-hour mountain bike ride. After the ride, tests were taken to record everyone\u2019s exercise-induced oxidative stress levels. Oxidative stress is a condition where there is an increase of oxidation in cells, along with the production of the chemical cortisol, they cause free radicals that degenerate the cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Afterwards, one group did a deep diaphramic breathing meditation while the other group simply relaxed; both in similar rooms. After an hour they were tested again. Here are their findings; (graph 1)<\/p>\n\n\n