How Climbing Helps Ease Tension and Improve Mental Health
- Mar 18, 2025
- 3 min read
Laurence Guyon is well-known when it comes to sports and performance. Former athlete in sport climbing, journalist, and coach, she is the co-founder of La Fabrique verticale, an online media about climbing and health, and the co-author of multiple training books in French.
Climbing isn't just about reaching the top of a boulder or a route. It can also help find physical and mental balance in a world that sometimes seems to accelerate uncontrollably. This is shown by several scientific studies on mental health.
In a world where chaos often seems to be the new normal and stress seems to be an unwelcome companion in our daily lives, it's no wonder that mental health problems are on the rise. Thus, a large study conducted in October 2024 across 31 countries on the perception of this issue within the population shows that globally, mental health has become the main health problem for 45% of respondents. It has even surpassed cancer (38%).
This reflects our tumultuous era, where crises seem to follow one another like dominoes. But amidst this whirlwind, there is a glimmer of hope, not in the latest digital detox or mindfulness app. It lies rather in something as simple and timeless as physical exercise. So, why not climbing?
Mental health: Exercising to unwind
Admit that after a long day spent battling deadlines and navigating the endless maze of emails, the last thing you think of is going to the gym. All you want is a cozy corner. Sometimes, a glass of wine or a good book can escape reality. Yet, climbing would be a more relevant solution to these accumulating tensions. Because like any physical activity, it helps to unwind.
But climbing isn't just a physical activity. It's more like solving a thrilling puzzle, one hold after another. Or playing a game of chess against gravity, thinking about betas while managing your fatigue. Obviously, along the way, you test your strength, balance, and agility. But climbing is also a mental activity. And a social activity too.
On the research front
Let's talk a bit about science. A study was conducted on 40 middle-aged people suffering from depression. This panel was divided into two groups: one participated in a climbing session. The other opted for a relaxation session. This study examined whether a single climbing session could have an impact on our mental health. The results showed a significant difference in their depressive symptoms and coping mechanisms.
So, even if you can't commit to climbing as regularly as you might like, know that a single session, even from time to time, can do wonders! And here's another piece of good news regarding anxiety: another study focused on 19 sedentary individuals who participated in an 8-week climbing program. The result was that not only did their anxiety levels decrease, but they also left the climbing gym with a newfound confidence, thanks to a boost in self-esteem.
Read more from Laurence Guyon
Laurence Guyon, Journalist, Author, Coach and Founder
Laurence Guyon is a former top-level athlete in sport climbing. She is known for having won the Arco Rock Masters in 1995, and she was Vice World Champion the same year. An accomplished sportswoman, she has stood on numerous podiums and won several World Cup stages between 1992 and 1997. Today, she is still an active climber and provides resources and support to climbers searching for progression. Up to 2014, Laurence has been working as a chief editor of a French climbing magazine. Now, she has taken up a central position at Fabrique Verticale with the mission of sharing training techniques and sources of inspiration
