Strike a Bow

Using archery for exercise after Lap Band surgery in Sarasota, Bradenton and St. Petersburg.

In case you didn’t get the memo, archery is in right now. If you want proof just ask Katniss, Hawkeye (Agent Barton) or Princess Merida—leading characters from The Hunger Games, The Avengers and Disney’s Brave, three of this year’s most popular and highly anticipated films. Each of these superhero-like characters holds a bow and arrow, bringing the old sport back in fashion.

Archery is a lot more than a summer camp favorite. This is a low impact sport that can help you burn calories after Lap Band surgery.

Get Started with a Bow and Arrow

Unlike other sports that involve running around or doing heavy lifting, archery is a relatively calm sport that requires more mental precision than physical exertion. However, while you are shooting an arrow your entire body needs to be aligned, with your arms held up and your back straight.

The low exertion of archery makes it a great sport for those who have recently undergone Lap Band surgery and are looking for a new hobby to get them out of the house and up on their feet. Depending on your weight, you could burn over 200 calories doing archery for one hour.

Archery is an ancient sport that has a wide following. Some people take to hunting with bows and arrows, while others keep to the range and shoot at sitting targets Robin Hood style.

Interested in trying archery?

There are a few ranges in the area that welcome beginners and can help you try out the sport.

• Center Shot Archery and Guns: Located on Palmer Blvd in Sarasota, this is a full service bow and gun pro-shop. They have been in the Gulf Coast area for over 15 years and are happy to introduce newcomers to the sport.
• Britton’s Archery Supplies and Range: Located just North of St. Petersburg in Tarpon Springs, this is an archery range that is suited for both adults and children.
• The Archery Shop: Located in Tampa, this store has a 20 yard indoor range. You can sign up and rent a lane for one hour at a time to practice your archery without leaving the shop.
• Tampa Bay Sporting and Clay Archery: This facility has an outdoors stationary course that is set up for both archery and gun firing. They offer archery lessons to both adults and kids.

While there isn’t a public archery range in Bradenton, there are sport shops around that sell novice archery supplies that are harmless to use in your backyard.

Warning: Archery can be a dangerous sport. When you are starting out, make sure to purchase a blunt tip arrow that cannot hurt anyone. Some arrows are meant for hunting and can cause an injury if you are not careful. There are plenty of safe arrows to choose from. When you are purchasing an arrow, make sure to tell the salesperson that you are doing this for exercise, not hunting.

If using a real arrow is a bit intimidating, then try a virtual one. There are a lot of fun archery games available on all the leading exergame consoles, including the Nintendo Wii and the Xbox Kinect.

Stay safe and have fun!