For 34-year-old Columbus, Ohio native Antoinette Wooden, a practice that was initially meant to temporarily soothe during a time of unexpected change ended up shifting her future in the best way.
It all started when she was laid off from her work in human resources. To help her relieve some of the stress of navigating such a significant setback, Wooden took to Groupon to look for some activities she could try, and in turn, take her mind off of things. A deal for an archery course caught her eye. Even though she had no previous experience with a bow and arrow, her curiosity was piqued.
Archery is historically known as a survival technique using the bow and arrow to hit a designated target. Whether it’s used for hunting or defense in battle, the sport has grown into a competitive skill that requires precision, mental control, and discipline. When first introduced to archery through that Groupon deal, Wooden figured that the practice could really be beneficial for her mental health during that period.
“I have bipolar disorder and auditory psychosis. So that means that I do hear auditory hallucinations on a daily basis. With archery, it really allowed me to slow down my pace of breathing and be more in control of what I was hearing versus my own thoughts to really separate the two,” she says. “The notion of being still and pausing helped me understand how I can be more in control of this mental state that gets me in such a disarray. When I go into a manic state or when I’m in a depression phase, archery really helps bring me back to the center of where I’m at.”
Integrating emotional wellness with archery was indeed a game-changer for Wooden. Everything with the sport started to come very naturally for her. So much so that with consistent practice and focus, her late best friend encouraged her to take her love for archery to the next level. With that in mind, she decided to make the practice more accessible to others within her community. In 2021, Columbus Archery, the first Black and Queer-owned archery business in the city, was born. Wooden’s goal then and now is to educate Black and Brown people about the sport and advocate for it as a possible tool for long-term wellness.
“One of the things that archery has taught me about myself is that you can do hard things. A lot of people are really scared to release the arrow. So that actually became part of our curriculum,” Wooden says. “To reset and focus your aim. When you are learning with an archer, they will tell you when to release the arrow. But a lot of people hold the arrow because they don’t feel confident in themselves. Even though the archer is standing right there, they’ve looked at your posture, they see the shot, they see you, and they know you’re ready. But as you hold the arrow there, it can start to shake your arm because the bow is heavy. Similar to any life decision or circumstance. You can feel scared and not trust yourself, which can make things feel heavy.”
She continues, “So what you have to do is reset your bow. You bring down the arrow, the bow, and you reset. You come and collect yourself. Ultimately, trust yourself that no matter what you do, the arrow is going to go forward. Go ahead and take the shot. That is a lot of our practice when it comes to the arrow. Telling people that you can do hard things and just move forward.”
Connecting emotional therapy and archery has become the foundation of Wooden’s practices and has been of great benefit for the local community. But gaining support and understanding from potential sponsors, she admits, has been challenging. Despite it being a space that is predominantly white and male-centered, contrary to popular belief, according to her, more Black and Brown people are becoming open about practicing archery. More people are seeing the benefits, so she isn’t letting those hurdles become a hindrance to her mission.
“There are a few myths about archery. That it’s only for kids or that it’s only for white people. I am such an advocate for doing this for the elders, our youth, and adults because I wholeheartedly believe that everybody can do archery,” she says. “There are blind archers. There are deaf archers, there are archers with no hands, there are archers with no legs, there’s even a whole paraplegic archer society, and they’re all successful at it. This sport is for anyone who is willing to give it a try.”
Still, there are rules and regulations you must follow to do archery, because a bow and arrow are considered a weapon. It is very important to be safe and cautious when handling the equipment yourself, and especially when you are around others. It is not recommended to practice archery in the city, a park, or in close proximity to others outside an approved archery facility. When shooting, you must be vigilant and free from distractions.
That said, before anyone becomes an archer, taking a class first is always recommended. At Columbus Archery, Wooden provides affordable drop-in classes and options for people who have Medicaid or SNAP. Archery courses can also be covered by a therapist, where the attendee and therapist can experience it firsthand together. From there, enthusiasts who are looking into taking on archery as a personal hobby should be prepared for the costs. According to Wooden, you can anticipate spending up to $600 on a bow, recurve, or compound, and arrows can range from $15 to $150 per dozen. All in all, it is critical to do your own research.
For Wooden, one of the main things that she appreciates about an archery-inspired lifestyle is how it has positively impacted those around her. With so much pressure to figure things out on your own, archery leans into the power of community: people guiding you and supporting you along the way. With courses and mentorship opportunities, those who have experienced archery wellness as a collective have shared with her that they now approach life in a brand new way. From setting boundaries to being more confident in who they are, mentees alike applaud Wooden for introducing them to a lifestyle that may appear to be a physical practice at heart, but its impacts go far beyond the body to the mind and spirit.
