Severn Partnership’s most recent company activity took us to Bowbrook Archers, a non-profit making Archery Club in Shropshire. With a choice of both Indoor and Outdoor ranges, the club provided us with all the equipment needed to get started and after a quick safety briefing, we began Target Shooting.
Whilst being a great sport for your physical health, archery also provides numerous benefits for your mental wellbeing. Severn Partnership have always focused heavily on promoting positive mental health and reducing the effects of stress in the workplace, with a range of social activities organised throughout the year aimed at improving communication and increasing collaboration.
Not only can it be practiced by all ages, genders or abilities, the sport of archery can also carry huge benefits as it challenges the four key mental factors in sport. These are considered to be concentration, confidence, control and commitment. Other health benefits of this sport include:
- Strength – The very act of drawing a bow repetitively strengthens core muscles by putting tension in the chest, arms, upper back and shoulders.
- Balance – Keeping yourself steady and balanced is key in archery as you aim and fire each arrow, and over time we build control of this.
- Patience – As with many sports, archery can be a challenge at first to perfect. Patience was required and tested for all at Severn Partnership as we built basic skills over the course of the day.
- Relaxation – By nature being a very calming sport, archery can be a great opportunity for some internal meditation. Though it can be very social with team competitions, it can also be an independent activity and allow the single shooter moments of stress relief with each arrow that hits the target.
If you’d like more information on archery in the Shropshire area, click here to read more about Bowbrook Archers.