Archery teaches patience, control and focus

 You may be surprised to learn that there are several health benefits to participating in archery. The idea that it merely consists of standing in a field and firing arrows is misguided. Competitive archers require a significant level of strength, endurance and focus — archery can improve your mental health, too.

The act of simply drawing the bowstring places considerable stress on the muscles of the arms, chest, shoulders and back. The stress is maintained for several seconds before the archer releases the string and, with repetition, the stress of drawing and firing a bow leads to muscle development in most of the major muscle groups of the upper body.

By practicing a proper draw, you'll strengthen not only your arms, hands, chest and shoulders, but also the core of your body. To avoid injury, it’s important that a professional sets your bow to the correct draw weight.

Archery is particularly good for developing focus and co-ordination, since archers learn to dismiss distractions, focus on the target and release the bowstring consistently. The process is almost meditative, and for many people archery has been a way to train concentration and patience. It also offers an opportunity to clear your mind of all the stresses in your life, making it a kind of meditation.

Balance is vital in archery, as you have to be able to hold your body still while aiming and making a shot, so practicing archery helps you gain control over your balance while you focus on trying to hit the centre of the target. The more you practice, the more your core muscles will become accustomed to balancing your body and keeping you steady as you aim and fire your arrow.

Archery teaches patience, control and focus, besides the added benefits of building physical strength. It's a rewarding activity, great for friendly competition and just having a good time.

For youngsters, there's the aspect of learning discipline and keeping them away from anti-social behaviour, but also the fantastic and fascinating history and legacy of archery, from the longbows of Crecy and Agincourt to the Mongolian archers on horseback — and, of course, Robin Hood!

There are many benefits to taking up a hobby. Check out the subjects at TutorExtra. Select your topic and choose your teacher to reduce stress and develop a new skill.