“If you aim at nothing you hit nothing”
Archery for Inner Balance is an experience-oriented approach that uses a recurve bow, arrows, and a target in a unique safe indoor setting (5 metres to target). Archery for Inner Balance invites you to choose to live your life purposely. It is the true meaning of “going with the flow”: welcome life’s invitations, without resistance but with choice and intent.
Like Zanshin in Kyudo (The Way of the Bow) Archery for Inner Balance cultivates the mindful awareness of your surroundings, your body and your mind. Moving away from a competitive activity solely focused on performance, perfection or success, Archery for Inner Balance is about the process, from the moment you stand (even before!) to the contemplation of the arrow that stills itself in the target. There and then, you might experience your own centredness in the here and in the now.
What is Archery for Inner Balance good for?
Archery for Inner Balance can support you with:
- Anxiety, depression, PND, PTSD, anger issues or low self-esteem/self-confidence.
- Resilience: the path of the peaceful Warrior
- Attention, concentration and focus
- Emotional balance, patience and adaptability
- Specific challenges like target panic for existing archers.
- For individuals with a spinal cord injury (paraplegia): beside the common psychological benefits, archery therapy can help acquire greater trunk stability and better muscle function.
Counterindication to Archery for Inner balance
Although all is done to make your experience of Archery for Inner Balance as safe as possible, the use of a bow and arrows holds inherent risks associated with participation in the activity of archery. Therefore, you will be asked to sign a health and risk disclaimer.
For the instruction of archery, I am insured by Country Cover Club Insurance.
About me and archery
In addition to being a psychotherapist and EMDR practitioner, I am a professional archery coach (BEES 1, France) with an Honours degree in Sports Science. I have over 30 years of experience in archery. I have taught and coached archery in France, Japan and Ireland.
As a sports therapist, I also used archery as a rehabilitative tool with individuals with spinal injuries, head trauma victims, amputees, and individuals with visual impairments.
Also a great article written by Emer Harrington, journalist:
Back Into Balance Body and Mind 