Health Benefits of Archery
Family Bonding:
Archery is one of those opportunities that
engages the whole family Young or old,
experianced or amateur, tall or short even if
you have a handicap. The whole family can
and should enjoy the sport TOGETHER!
Open to all:
Archery can be done by both able bodied
and disabled people. People with the most severe disabilities
and even the blind, use special tactile equipment and are
able to join in – making this a great family sport!
Strength building:
The arms, core, hands, chest and
shoulders are all used when practicing a proper draw. Similar to
lifting weights, the tension on these muscle groups is typically
maintained for several seconds before the archer releases the
string to fire an arrow. With repetition, the act of drawing and firing
a bow leads to muscle development in most of the major muscle
groups of the upper body.
Improved hand-eye coordination and balance:
Archery trains the hands to work together while performing different tasks,
aiming and firing the arrow based on input from your eyes.
Coordination improves with repetition and practice. Balance is also
paramount to success in archery, as the body must be held still while
aiming and making a shot. Over time, the core becomes better at
gaining control of the body’s balance and helps with more accurate
shooting.
Improves Confidence:
In archery, competition can be
against others or against oneself. Because of this, results are
measurable and improvement in one’s form and technique results
in a boost in self-esteem and self-confidence.
Increased Focus:
Archers need to tune out all
distractions, focus on their form, and release the
bowstring consistently. The concentration practiced
during archery can help with coping in high-pressure
situations, and in day-to-day life as well.
Increased Patience:
Most people can use a lesson in
patience, and archery helps with that. This is a sport that
requires patience because it is not about speed but about
precision – and precision can take time.
Is a form of exercise:
At competition level, archers
walk the equivalent of five miles (8km), carrying heavy
loads during a day’s event. In addition, Prevention magazine
says drawing a bow burns about 140 calories per half-hour,
the same as walking at a brisk, 3.5-mph pace.
Is a social sport:
People of any age and from many
walks of life enjoy archery. Almost every age group can
participate,competitors from the age of 6 all the way into
their 80s are shooting. It also teaches the benefits of
teamwork in some cases with some competitions involving
groups of people.
Hand and finger flexibility:
Finger and hand strength increase
in archery. They also become more flexible because they are fully
in use while aiming at the target.
Burn Calories:
Archery is a sport that can be practised by all, no matter age,
gender or ability. While physically drawing a bow does expend
energy, so does walking to the target end on end to collect
arrows. During the London 2012 Olympic Games, The Economist
compared the calorie usage of winning Olympic golds to 10
minutes of other activities like dancing, snorkelling, sweeping
and vacuuming.
On their way to topping the Olympic podium, a male archer
burns an estimated 1,084 calories – only 747 calories less than
women in marathon but more than 1,054 than the 100 metres’
sprint men. (Yes, the timeframes are different – but the point
is valid!)
At tournaments, archers walk around eight kilometres (five
miles) eachg day and can burn between 100 and 150 active
calories every 30 minutes.
Relaxation:
Releasing an arrow, watching it fly, and
having it hit a target can relieve stress. The act of
focusing while building strength and confidence is
overall a satisfying and relaxing experience.