AC Athlete Adina Budriga: Leveling Up in Climbing and Launching a Mindset Coaching Business

Adina Budriga is a climber from Ireland currently prepping for van life. She will spend one year exploring and doing tons of outdoor climbing (I’m only a little jealous). Over the past five months, I have been coaching Adina remotely, and she has made strides in her climbing and confidence, even jumping two climbing grades! I was curious to hear more about Adina's experience with Remote 1:1 Coaching, so I asked if I could interview her.

Adina is consistent with training and keeps her eyes on the bigger picture, allowing her to stay positive through the ups and downs and, in turn, make continued progress in training and climbing.

Adina also recently launched a mindset coaching business and is working towards becoming a Certified Flow Coach. She is currently offering a limited amount of FREE coaching sessions. Make sure you check her out on Instagram and book your session today!

Let’s learn more about Adina’s story.

1. When did you start working with Jacquie, and why did you decide to seek coaching when you did?

I started working with Jacquie in July 2024, right after moving to a new city during an incredibly busy period in my life. With limited time to climb, I worried about losing the progress I’d worked so hard for. I wanted a training routine that not only maintained my strength but also allowed me to continue growing as a climber. It was important for me to feel like I was still moving forward, even with fewer climbing days.

2. What were you struggling with in your training and climbing, and how did coaching alleviate some of those struggles?

I used to feel a lot of pressure to make every climbing session “perfect” but didn’t know how to balance different types of training like power, endurance, and technique. Past training programs weren’t delivering results anymore, and I was stuck in a cycle of pushing too hard and dealing with injuries. This uncertainty made climbing feel more stressful than enjoyable.

Working with Jacquie changed that completely. She gave me a clear structure and the confidence to train smarter, not harder. Her tools also helped me track my progress more intentionally, which allowed me to notice patterns and make better decisions.

3. What was the biggest difference you noticed in your climbing and/or mindset after you started working with Jacquie?

I gained a much deeper understanding of body positioning and its role in climbing. Before, I’d often assume I just wasn’t strong enough if a move felt impossible. Through Jacquie’s video analysis, I started seeing how small shifts in positioning could make all the difference.

Instead of labelling myself as "not good enough," I began exploring different solutions on the wall. Now, when a hold feels out of reach, I think more critically about where my pulling force needs to come from or how to adjust my foot placement. It’s made climbing more enjoyable and rewarding.

4. What has been your favourite part of training with Jacquie?

It’s hard to pick just one because working with Jacquie has been such a supportive and motivating experience! I especially love the video analysis, which has been a game-changer for my technique, and the anticipation of a new training week. Jacquie checks in with me every Sunday to reflect on wins from the past week and then sends a personalized plan for the week ahead. That process helps me feel both grounded in my progress and excited for what’s next.

5. What has been your most significant achievement(s) since starting to work with Jacquie?

During my time with Jacquie, I’ve only climbed indoors, and my gyms use a 1-9 difficulty scale (9 being the hardest). Before, I wasn’t consistently climbing 5s or 6s, but now I’ve flashed 7s and feel more capable than ever. While gym grading can vary, the real achievement is how much stronger and more confident I feel.

What’s even more meaningful to me is that I’ve managed to train consistently without recurring injuries, even while recovering from a back injury I had before starting with Jacquie. This progress has reminded me how important it is to trust the process and care for my body while still pushing my limits.

5. What lessons, exercises, and/or drills have you learned that you will keep integrating into your climbing and training routine?

I know this might sound like a cliché, but the biggest lesson I’ve learned is that less is often more. I used to train six days a week or even do double training days, thinking I had to do everything to improve. Jacquie’s approach taught me to focus on quality over quantity. Training 4-5 days a week, with intentional sessions off the wall, helped me see better results and avoid burnout.

I’ve also fallen in love with certain drills, like the 3-second hand-hover drill for warming up, and lock-off exercises like 7-second holds. These aren’t just great for building strength—they’ve also helped me tap into my “try-hard” spirit and approach each session more intentionally.

6. Adina is a mindset coach and recently started her own online business. What made you want to get into mindset coaching?

When I started climbing about four years ago, it quickly became clear that fear, anxiety, and perfectionism were holding me back. At times, it got so overwhelming that I even thought about quitting—it felt like I wasn’t "made for it" or couldn’t handle big falls. I immersed myself in books, podcasts, fear management courses, and, most importantly, worked with incredible mindset coaches who helped me navigate these challenges. Their guidance helped me improve and inspired me to share the tools I’ve learned.

I believe there’s so much untapped potential in the climbing community when it comes to mindset training. The goal isn’t to eliminate fear or bad days entirely but to understand ourselves better, find our unique path to growth, and prioritize mental strength as much as physical training. Climbing has been such a powerful catalyst for my personal growth, and I want to support others in finding that same transformation.

7. What type of clients are you interested in working with?

As a certified Flow Coach, I specialize in helping people access flow states more often and manage barriers like fear, pressure, or self-doubt. Climbing has been my greatest teacher, so I’m especially passionate about working with climbers eager to explore their mindset and grow, not just as athletes but as individuals. I believe climbing can be a venue for incredible personal transformation, and I love supporting people in discovering that for themselves.

8. What kind of person would benefit from mindset coaching?

Mindset coaching is ideal for anyone ready to set clear goals and do the inner work to achieve them. In climbing, where mental barriers like fear or doubt can be just as challenging as physical ones, coaching can be transformative. Whether you’re working through a specific issue, like fear of falling, or simply want to better understand what drives you, mindset coaching helps you grow both as a climber and as a person.

It’s not a quick fix or a one-size-fits-all solution—it’s a process that requires curiosity, acceptance and commitment. But for those willing to invest the effort, it can lead to profound changes in how they approach climbing and life.

9. Where can people find you and learn about your mindset coaching services?

Right now, I’m offering a limited number of free coaching sessions to help people experience mindset coaching first-hand. You can book a session at calendly.com/aflowcoach/firstsession. I’m also available by email (aflowcoach@gmail.com), on Instagram (@badinaclimbs), and LinkedIn (Adina Budriga). As I continue to grow my business, I’ll share updates on new offerings, so stay tuned!

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I would like to give a huge thank you to Adina for sharing her remote coaching experience and telling us about her new mindset coaching business! And of course, a huge thank you to YOU for reading this blog post.