Health Benefits of Archery
We have all experienced that stir-crazy feeling derived from staying at home. Due to the adjustments people worldwide have had to make for the safety of everyone, many have found areas of their life and health lacking in ways they hadn’t experienced before such as social interaction, exposure to fresh air and the sun, feeling peaceful, and exercise. Fortunately, there is a solution for all these deficits: archery!
There is so much value in spending time in the sun outdoors and the opportunity is often taken for granted. Did you know that Vitamin D (obtained, in part, through sun exposure) is a necessary and important vitamin that supports healthy bones, provides mental health benefits, and strengthens the immune system? Finding an outdoor range at which to shoot is a wonderful way to experience and enjoy fresh air, connect with nature, and get your Vitamin D!
As most already know, archery is a sport rooted in accuracy which makes it a fun and easy way to improve hand-eye coordination skills, upper body strength, core stability, and balance! Archery engages the arms, shoulders, back, core, and legs to create a consistent and repeatable shot. Not only do you get to use those muscles when shooting, but archery is also a fun way to get your steps in for the day when walking from the shooting line to the target and back!
Archery involves a plethora of minute movements and adjustments for use of small muscles located near large muscle groups; this translates into an immense amount of control when mastered, so form work is an exceptional way to refine physical awareness.
Unlike so many other sports out there in which awareness of teammates and adrenaline are factors of success, in archery the shooter is a crucial part of the process, so self-awareness and the ability to eliminate other thoughts and distractions is imperative.
As an individual sport, archery encourages a sense of calm and serenity. Shooting a bow with proper form and technique requires great levels of concentration and the ability to focus entirely on the self. Approaching the shot cycle as a meditative practice can do wonders for mental health, patience, and internal serenity because the archer is centered on the task at hand: shooting the same cycle repeatedly for consistent results. Archery is a gateway for being present in the moment, it is just you and the target in open (outdoor) space.
Another benefit of archery is that it encourages a healthy competitive mindset. It is easy to be competitive even when shooting alone! Many archers keep track of their scores and strive to improve them each time they shoot to monitor their progress. If you have an android cellular device, check out this Personal Scoring App for OAS made by an archery enthusiast from the OAS Los Angeles Conference to log your scores and track your progress!
One way to compete with friends while practicing physical distancing is through virtual communication! Comparably to how World Archery has hosted the Lockdown Knockout, individuals can shoot from their respective ranges and show video or photos of where their arrows landed using FaceTime, Google Duo, or any other video calling interface.
Archery participants innately experience character building benefits such as patience, discipline, and persistence simply by engaging in the sport. Shooting promotes patience, as improvement in shooting form can often take time and practice; discipline because following the safety guidelines is imperative to having a great time; and persistence, because no one is perfect the first time around and continuing practice makes for better practice!
Finally, archery is always great for a dose of fun after periods of stagnation. Get out and enjoy the sunshine, feel the breeze on your face, get in the zone and shoot to your heart’s content. It’s a great time and, best of all, it’s healthy!