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VENTURE<br />
Fitness<br />
Climber Michi<br />
Wohlleben reaps<br />
the benefits of the<br />
Isele Technique<br />
“When you<br />
visualise, you<br />
need the perfect<br />
interplay of<br />
body and mind”<br />
Physiotherapist<br />
Klaus Isele<br />
Scaling<br />
new<br />
heights<br />
How to master<br />
the Isele<br />
Technique<br />
VISUALISE<br />
Mind<br />
climbing<br />
Physio Klaus Isele has<br />
developed a training<br />
method that improves<br />
a climber’s ascent before<br />
they have even set off<br />
Practising a dry run is an<br />
essential component of<br />
any competitive climber’s<br />
preparation, but Austrian<br />
physiotherapist and climb<br />
trainer Klaus Isele (pictured<br />
above) advocates a more<br />
advanced approach. While<br />
working as a physio to the<br />
Austrian national climbing<br />
team from 2009 to 2019,<br />
Isele found the need for a<br />
system that would keep the<br />
athletes fit and sharp during<br />
bouts of injury, preventing<br />
loss of muscle mass and<br />
maintaining their familiarity<br />
with movement patterns.<br />
To address this, he developed<br />
an intense visualisation<br />
technique that requires<br />
climbers to fully experience<br />
the ascent – mentally and<br />
physically – while lying on<br />
their back. Top German<br />
alpinist Michi Wohlleben<br />
swears by the Isele Technique,<br />
claiming it makes him more<br />
mobile as he internalises<br />
hundreds of automatic<br />
movements and details of<br />
the route while exposing his<br />
body to less stress. Adhering<br />
to the system has paid off:<br />
recently, Wohlleben scaled<br />
the 9a-rated Speed Intégrale<br />
in Voralpsee, Switzerland –<br />
the hardest sport climb<br />
of his career.<br />
physioandclimb.com<br />
PREPARATION<br />
Find a quiet place, one<br />
that helps you visualise<br />
the mountain. Close<br />
your eyes.<br />
PROCESSING<br />
Imagine you’re starting<br />
a climb and imitate<br />
every move. Use your<br />
muscles as if this<br />
were real.<br />
PRECISION<br />
Focus on the tiniest<br />
details – this imprints<br />
the movement patterns<br />
in your mind. It’s<br />
difficult to correct<br />
routines once they’re<br />
habitual.<br />
PASSION<br />
Work yourself up<br />
emotionally. You have<br />
to put body and soul<br />
into it to achieve the<br />
perfect flow.<br />
MORITZ ATTENBERGER TOM MACKINGER FLORIAN STURM<br />
82 THE RED BULLETIN
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