The famous Olympic Games or Olympics is one of the leading international sporting events, that feature summer and winter sports competitions in which a vast number of athletes from all corners of the world compete in a variety of different games. The Olympic Games are considered the world’s foremost sports competition with more than 200 nations participating. The Olympic Games are held every four years,
According to historical records, the first ancient Olympic Games can be traced back to 776 BC. They were dedicated to the Olympian gods and were staged on the ancient plains of Olympia. Olympia, the site of the ancient Olympic games, is in the western part of the Peloponnese which, according to Greek mythology, is the island of “Pelops”, the founder of the Olympic Games.
This massive event host’s a huge number of different sports that can range from basketball, football, swimming, shooting and even wrestling and many others. One of the sports activities held at the Olympic Games is archery. It is regarded as one of the oldest sports that is still practiced and is linked closely to the development of human civilization.
In this article, we’ll discuss the health benefits of archery on a less grandiose basis than the Olympics, diving into how it improves the well-being of its participants.
Subtle Exercise – Health Benefits of Archery
Thrumming a bowstring may not seem like an effective form of exercise, but it nonetheless does qualify as physical activity. Drawing a bow places stress on the back and shoulders, toning those particular muscle groups. Walking to the shooting line, collecting the consequent arrows, also offers a modicum of cardiovascular activity.
Pertaining to exercise, we’re more likely to consistently participate in activities we find agreeable. For many people, long-distance running, or sprinting, or vehement weightlifting, is far too taxing. Something like archery, which engages both the body and mind, can act as a more consistent endeavor as a regular form of exercise.
Builds Focus
Concentration is seminal in developing proficiency within archery. Especially if one is shooting arrows outdoors, one must calculate the impact of gusts, ancillary noise, and the proper placement of arrow on string.
None of us are Legolas, the Elven archery warrior from Lord of the Rings. We cannot seamlessly jettison an arrow in the span of a second to waylay our foes. For regular folks, accurate archery requires a depth of precision and focus that can be translated into prosaic endeavors.
Builds Resilience – Health Benefits of Archery
Like golf, archery is frustrating. More often than not, you will miss your avowed target.
Progress, however, is easily documentable in archery. One can score their results and view their incremental progress tangibly. Learning that not every thrum of the bow will go exactly as dictated constitutes an important lesson in grappling with unexpected outcomes or unfortunate mistakes. The next arrow always offers hope for improvement.
Relaxation
Archery is a form of catharsis, which translates to “purification” or “cleansing in ancient Greek.” Many Greek dramatists, like Sophocles, Euripides, and Aeschylus, sought to produce dramas so emotionally intense that it would counterintuitively relieve the audience of their own internal tension.
Archery is far less intense than those aforementioned dramas, but it does produce a constellation of focused breathing, concentration, and anxiety that is dispensed during engagement. It offers an underappreciated form of relaxation of relief, one which can be easily translated to work and domestic pressures.
Socialization – Health Benefits of Archery
Though archery is an individual sport, if performed at an archery club, it is a convenient way of interacting with others in your community. Review options in your local community to discover if there is an archery range in your proximity. It is an easy way, especially if you are new to a town, to meet friendly and competitive people.
