Yoga for conditioning
Hi all,I was surprised that no one has mentioned the importance of focusing your mind to help coordinating your body to help in improving an indivisual's archery skills.It has been mentioned in many of the ancient Indian texts and the Vedas the importance of spirituality in a warrior/archer/swordsman,meditation was the main focus in the method of teaching.To quote something from The Mahabharat,The master Drona Asked Arjun(his star pupil and The Hero of the Epic)When he first handed him a bow and told him to take aim at a bird's eye on the tree,"what do you see?" Arjun Replied that I see only the eye.On recieving the answer Drona was satisfied that the Child Was ready for Archery.There are many Asans (poses) in yoga which in my opinion help immensely in improving one's archery skills.I can personally say that my concentration has improved quiet a bit since I started yoga and it has made me a better and more patient man as a person as well.I hope I am not boring anyone,thanks for all the information that has helped me in my bowmaking.P.J.Singh
There are quite a lot of similar stories from different cultures. They stress concentration on the target to the exclusion of everything else. I think many archers have experienced a moment when they saw the target and the arrow merge into one object. The amazing thing is when the arrow actually flies straight into the point you were looking at.
Which is generally the first arrow of the session I normally find. Though we shoot decent arrows and some not so good, maybe it's the fact that the first is done naturally, almost with no thought, whereas the more we 'try' the more negative the effect.Bede wrote:
The amazing thing is when the arrow actually flies straight into the point you were looking at.
The first arrow often is accompanied by a clear mind. Keeping the mind clear and untroubled is more difficult than the physical act of shooting, I think. However, by concentrating on the physical aspects of shooting, you sometimes regain that clarity and calmness.
I think a lot of us can feel the good shots when they happen. The problem is to get back to the mental place that made it possible. Archery is brain exercise too.
I think a lot of us can feel the good shots when they happen. The problem is to get back to the mental place that made it possible. Archery is brain exercise too.
Great post PjSingh!
I've only practiced yoga a little over the years but I do practice something I call 'archery yoga' which is similar to how I was taught to practice yoga.
I get close to the target (5 meters or so) and focus on what my body is doing. I focus my attention on different parts depending on what part of my form I want to improve. Recently it was keeping my draw arm elbow above the bow arm/arrow line at full draw and using my back muscles more. It has also been on where I'm drawing to, what my bow arm/hand is doing on release and so on. I often do this with my eyes closed to really focus on the body and develop muscle memory (neuromuscular connections). It helps a lot when I feel target panic coming on (something I've suffered with for over 30 years. Buddha said that life was suffering!). Generally nips it in the bud.
J.
I've only practiced yoga a little over the years but I do practice something I call 'archery yoga' which is similar to how I was taught to practice yoga.
I get close to the target (5 meters or so) and focus on what my body is doing. I focus my attention on different parts depending on what part of my form I want to improve. Recently it was keeping my draw arm elbow above the bow arm/arrow line at full draw and using my back muscles more. It has also been on where I'm drawing to, what my bow arm/hand is doing on release and so on. I often do this with my eyes closed to really focus on the body and develop muscle memory (neuromuscular connections). It helps a lot when I feel target panic coming on (something I've suffered with for over 30 years. Buddha said that life was suffering!). Generally nips it in the bud.
J.
.....And then this happens..
The above is a picture of what can happen when all is going right. Last night was one of those 'special' times when the bow, draw, loose and follow through flowed as clearly as a mountain stream, it gave me goose bumps.
My arrow groups were wonderful....too wonderful, as you can see :cry: and there goes one of my beautiful set of spine and weight matched arrows with hand cut fletchings. All that love and attention.... :roll:
The feeling was almost worth the loss of the arrow.......but not quite :wink:
My arrow groups were wonderful....too wonderful, as you can see :cry: and there goes one of my beautiful set of spine and weight matched arrows with hand cut fletchings. All that love and attention.... :roll:
The feeling was almost worth the loss of the arrow.......but not quite :wink:
Hello Everyone,The position Mr.Dulac is describing is an asan in Yoga and the only difference in what he is doing and what is described in some of the yogic texts is that the archer is kneeling on his right knee while at full draw.I found that doing a bit of meditation while in a position called the half lotus and visualising the target with my eyes closed helps me a lot when it comes to actually shooting wether it being bow or at the skeet range on a clay.To take something form a famous elephant hunter,W.D.M.Bell of small Bore rifle fame,He describes practising with his rifle the task of raising the rifle to firing position while visualising on an imaginary target helped him so much when it came to shooting at live targets that he never even realised that he had fired and the bullet had found its mark he had visualised on the animal,now that's instinctive shooting.hope I can do that some day.
Ordha,
'My arrow groups were wonderful....too wonderful, as you can see Crying or Very sad and there goes one of my beautiful set of spine and weight matched arrows with hand cut fletchings. All that love and attention.... Rolling Eyes'
I suspect that this may be one of those things Buddha was alluding to when he described ones' level of suffering being directly related to the level of attachment one has to one's material possessions! :lol:
Your pain shows that you have not reached enlightenment yet Grasshopper, but you sure did impress me with your shooting! :wink: Keep it up! Just shoot at multiple bulleyes to save your arrows!
J.
'My arrow groups were wonderful....too wonderful, as you can see Crying or Very sad and there goes one of my beautiful set of spine and weight matched arrows with hand cut fletchings. All that love and attention.... Rolling Eyes'
I suspect that this may be one of those things Buddha was alluding to when he described ones' level of suffering being directly related to the level of attachment one has to one's material possessions! :lol:
Your pain shows that you have not reached enlightenment yet Grasshopper, but you sure did impress me with your shooting! :wink: Keep it up! Just shoot at multiple bulleyes to save your arrows!
J.