Ourea | Inside the hands of Anaïs

Maryll

Co-Founder

I discovered Anaïs and her amazing energy with the documentary High Inspiration (available for free | here |) about the journey of four women who became independent in mountaineering after two years of training with high mountain guides. We follow them to their first 4,000m summits

Their journey is totally crazy. I love Anaïs's calm approach and willingness to learn. When her parents offer her a guided trip to the summit of Mont Blanc, she uses the money for training classes so that one day she can do it on her own

Anaïs is now thinking about becoming an IFMGA mountain guide like Giulia Monego (read our interview with Giulia | here |). Her adventures inspire me. We share the same love for lead climbing and yoga

Please discover below our interview with Anaïs, who tells us about her journey, her motivations, her love of yoga and Ourea. Thank you, Anaïs!

How did you get into mountaineering?

I have always loved walking in the mountains, bivouacking, going off the beaten track and tracing steep routes. I was also already skiing in resorts and off-piste. Then, I had the opportunity to discover mountaineering in 2017, thanks to the works council of the company I worked for. A colleague, an engineer and guide, offered courses to help me become independent in the mountains. I started with ski touring training, then mountaineering with the particularity of going directly to the lead team to learn how to manage and organize my own mountain trips. Then I found out about Lead The Climb, an association with which I did a few courses before having the opportunity to join their women's mountaineering group! It was a real accelerator in my practice

What motivated you to learn leading in mountaineering?

I learned directly by doing, step by step on mountain trips at my technical level. I had no choice because I didn't know anyone around me who do mountaineering... And looking back I realize that I wouldn't have considered things any differently. In these mountain sports I chose to learn to manage my trips myself and not depend on someone who will take me. I wanted to understand this environment to be able to make my own decisions and feel safe. I later loved taking friends to discover mountaineering on easy outings

Little by little, I was able to climb to summits I would never have imagined I would reach and create incredibly strong rope bonds! Mountain sports are now my way of life and a true passion that I love to share

What does yoga bring to your high mountain practice?

We put enormous strain on our bodies and minds during our mountain trips. So even if we have much more resources than we think, we must take care of ourselves. On a physical level, yoga allows me to restore my body after long outings, but also to prevent injuries and maintain mobility. On a more spiritual level, it allows me to settle down, assimilate, and visualize. Breathing, mediation, and mindfulness exercises are truly powerful practices that have accompanied me for almost 10 years. This year, I trained to become a yoga teacher and pass on everything it has brought me

What is your feedback on Ourea Plum Oil?

I use | Ourea Plum oil | between each of my vertical climbs. I massage my hands and pay particular attention to the pads of my fingers
Amazing result: my skin regenerates super fast! No more rough fingertips or broken skin. Plus, the texture of the oil is super pleasant and fluid! In short, it's a little gem that now accompanies me on all my mountain runs! Bonus: I also use it on my face and hair!