I am an avid reader of the Women’s Outdoor News (WON).
Not only are they a great news resource for what is going on in the
worlds of hunting and shooting as it pertains to women, it is also like
any other outdoor magazine, with the tiny modification, that instead of
articles all about men and written by men, it is written by and about
women. It’s about time :)
Recently I read an article about Yoga for Duck Hunters,
and I quickly remembered how I had turned to Yoga this spring during my
long days in the turkey blind. There is an altogether different kind of
fatigue that comes from sitting quietly in a confined space for 12 or
so hours. The relief that even a few imperfect Yoga poses can bring
cannot be overstated. Since I was hunting in a “dog house” style blind
(and had not yet learned the importance of a seat with a backrest) I
needed poses that stretched my back, my legs, got my blood moving around
my body, and yet could be done in a very confined space. I had about 60
x 66 inches, and I found that taking some of the yoga from my normal
practice and modifying it to fit my space, really gave me the kind of
relief I needed, that allowed me to be able to stay out in my blind all
day long. I managed to squeeze in a mini (arms not extended overhead)
Sun Salutation, a few Warrior & Warrior II poses and several of the Wide Legged, Forward Bend
variations. I do think that each person should only attempt poses they
are already very comfortable with when out in the middle of nowhere in
your blind. It would be an altogether different kind of tragedy if you
were to, say pull a muscle trying to stretch, than having to pack it in a
little early from fatigue. In short, please use caution.
Awareness
of your body, it’s needs and how to meet them is vitally important for
any activity you engage in that challenges your boundaries. Yoga is an
amazing way to get connected to your body and help you understand those
boundaries. Spending time, getting committed to a yoga practice in your
daily life will pay out big dividends, not just for the hunting season,
but also in terms of your knowledge and connection to your own body, a
centered focus of mind and a kind of clarity and flow in your everyday
life that cannot be overstated.
It
is also really important to prepare your body for the challenges you
want to take on. Getting in shape for the hunt is just as important as
scouting the perfect location. Challenging myself is definitely a big
part of the joy I get out of hunting, but I need to be sure that I am
reaching for those challenges in a safe way. WON also published an excellent article about getting in shape for stalk hunting,
a great resource for how to get ready. Another way I get ready is to
spend as much time as I can hiking in and out of similar areas to the
areas I will be hunting, or going out “scouting” even if I don’t need
to, as a way of insuring that I am not going to be taxing myself too
much just getting in and out of the areas I want to hunt. This can also
give me ample opportunities to forage for non-meat foods in these
areas. Last year I found bushels of feral apples while out scouting
squirrel territory. Along with several delicious fungi.
Get up early, get in some yoga, then get outside, get some exercise, adventure & maybe even get some food.
No comments:
Post a Comment