Anyone that has fished will know the calm and tranquillity that the sport can bring and the associated health benefits. Much of this stems from being in nature and focusing on the task at hand that all of your worries melt away. Before you know it hours have passed and it is time to depart, after one last cast. Combined with the exercise of walking into the location there are diverse health and psychological benefits.
This focus on the task at hand and being in the moment is a form of mindfulness which has gained in popularity in recent years. I started practising mindfulness several years ago. I was looking for a low impact form of exercise and decided to try a Dru Yoga class. While I enjoyed the yoga classes immensely, the twisting aggravated a spinal injury and I needed to quit the class. However, I had enjoyed the mindfulness meditations with which we had always finished the classes. I have since kept practising mindfulness meditation as it brings peace on those days when you can’t get to the water to fish.
Herewith a few links on the subject that you might find interesting:
Catch and Release: Fly Fishing, Mindfulness, and the Art of Letting Go
Fishing for Mindful Meditation
Coarse fishing is mindfulness for men
Tight Lines
Greg
