Fishing is a fantastic hobby that helps many people all over unwind as they help put food on the table at the end of the day. Many people assume that fishing is a hobby for lazy people—all you do is set up your fishing tools then sit around and wait for the fish to come to you, right?
Did you know that there are many physical and mental health benefits that come with this hobby? Fishing can challenge your physical prowess as well as your strategic mind. No matter your experience or fitness level, there is a certain type of fishing that will engage you and help keep you fit.
Here are five ways fishing can help you stay happy and healthy:
Simply sitting on the shore and waiting for a bite doesn’t engage too many muscles. However, hiking long distances to get to a lake or wading for hours in an active stream are great ways to get a workout while you are out in nature.
Active fishing can be a full-body workout. Casting your rod and reeling in your catch involves using fine muscles that a typical workout may not address, and helps improve your hand-eye coordination. Stepping around rocks and resisting the flow of a small stream helps build resistance in your legs.
Fishing in its simplest form is a fantastic low-impact activity that physical therapists, psychologists, and even the US Veterans Health Administration use it as a form of rehabilitation therapy. The simple repetitive movements help injured people regain strength in their injured or damaged muscles.
Fishing brings with it all the physical benefits of spending time under the sun and fresh air. Vitamin D from the sun helps regulate calcium and phosphate, leading to healthy bones, teeth, and muscles. It also helps keep heart disease and certain autoimmune diseases at bay.
Spending hours in crisp, fresh air allows your lungs to dilate more fully and clears out the unhealthy air in your respiratory system. Fresh air also increases energy in 90% of people. Regularly being out in nature will help you feel healthy for many years to come.
By definition, fishing means extended periods of staying still and spending time in nature. It is a meditative activity that helps you relax, slow down, and reflect on your life. The simple act of being near water lowers anxiety and instills a sense of calm. Spending time in nature can also help improve concentration. The more time you spend away from work and technology, the better it is for your mental health.
Spending time in fresh air and water have a natural meditative effect on your body and mind. Keeping still for extended periods is a great mindfulness exercise that creates calm and fulfillment.
Fishing therapy has been found to be especially helpful for people who suffer from post-traumatic stress. People with PTSD, depression, and anxiety can find relief and healing from their symptoms if they spend time fishing and angling.
Fishing is more than just a sedentary hobby. It is also an athletic endeavor that provides many physical and mental health benefits for those who partake in it. Combining the act of wading and hiking with spending hours on end under the sun and fresh air will help keep you healthy for a long time to come.
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