Our Fly Fishing and the Brain workshop combines the unique opportunity to explore the intricate relationship between fly fishing and the human brain, with the fundamentals of fly fishing for beginners. Participants will learn about the neuroscience behind the sport and how it affects the brain's physiology. They will also learn about the different techniques, equipment, and strategies involved in fly fishing.
The Fly Fishing 101 workshop is designed to introduce beginners to the fundamentals of fly fishing. During the workshop, participants will learn about equipment needed for fly fishing, how to tie basic knots, cast a fly rod, and read the water to locate fish. The workshop will also cover basic entomology, teaching participants about the insects that trout and other fish feed on, and how to choose the right fly to imitate these insects.
By combining these two workshops, participants will better understand the sport and how it can positively impact the brain and overall well-being. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced angler, this workshop is a great way to learn about the sport and improve your skills.
We also curate flyfishing and wellness retreats and Fish camps, collaborating with companies for corporate events for team bonding both co-ed and women only.
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Fly Fishing & The Brain -
Written by Zina Sheya & Sunny Pepos ( ATTF)
Today, in the United States there are approximately 50 Million people who fly fish. Among those most understand the quote by Henry David “ Many go all their lives without knowing it’s not the fish they are after”. This quote brings to the for front the mental and physical benefits of fly fishing without stating it directly.
Fly fishing can be noted as a quiet sport, an individual sport one that if looked at in its deepest form as a mediative sport.
In 2020, with the onset of Covid, anxiety and depression increased globally by 25 percent. Depression and anxiety growth rates exploded so rapidly that at the end of 2021, the US Surgeon General declared a “devastating national mental health Crisis”
The widespread lockdowns help fuel a mental health epidemic. With this, we at ATTF dive into the research to understand why Fly Fishing is considered Brain work.
In the Harvard University 2015 study of Fly Fishing and the Brain, we discovered several benefits of fly fishing related to mental health, stress reduction, and Ptsd treatments. The research showed that the repetitive back-and-forth motion of casting a fly fishing line caused a state of relaxation in the brain such as one experienced in Yoga. The need to focus the brain on one simple task to accomplish the cast drowned out all the chatter of everyday life in the brain, the chatter of past ptsd, the chatter of the to-do list, the chatter of self or negative talk, the act of casting the line and watching the fly land softly on the water, in combination with the fresh air, the quiet scenery of the outdoors and the sound of the water flowing resulted in a perfect combination for the brain to rest and reset. Herbert Benson MD Professor of the Mind Body Medicine at HMS and director of Benson-Henry Institute at Massachusetts General Hospital, says humankind has learned over the millennia how to turn off stress by “breaking the train of everyday thinking”. With that discovery, fly fishing does exactly that, it encompasses all the elements needed to unplug and rest the mind.
In 1975 Benson discovered relaxing the brain can counterbalance stress responses. When the brain is relaxed the fight or flight mechanism is relaxed, which results in a reduction of anger, triggers, rage, anxiety, and depression. Relaxing the brain is a state of deep rest one which changes a persons physical and emotional state. When practiced, the relaxation response slows the breathing rate, relaxes the muscles, and reduces blood pressure.
It is also noted that being in nature and engaging in recreational activities reduces psychological stress, making fly fishing an encumbering natural stress-relieving activity.
Fly fishing is used for the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled military personnel and veterans. Studies have shown that PTSD sufferers experience lower levels of cortisol, depression, anxiety, and stress - and sleep better - after fly fishing.
A 2019 study shows fly fishing can lower PTSD symptoms and increase the mood of those suffering from the disorder. After 3 days of fly fishing participation those who engaged in the activity reported a 32% reduction of guilt, a 43% decrease in feelings of hostility, 30% less feeling of fear, and 36% less feelings of sadness with a portion of the effects remaining a full month after a fly fishing retreat.
Further studies have shown the benefits of fly fishing in cancer patients used as a therapeutic physical therapy treatment. The gentle motion of the fly fishing cast can be therapeutic for women who have had surgery or radiation to treat breast cancer. Fly casting can increase mobility in the arm and upper body, making it an effective form of physical therapy for other upper body injuries. The small flies used in the sport, the fly tying and small not tying improve hand-eye coordination and cognitive focus.
Wading, casting, and reeling in fish can burn anywhere from 500-1500 calories, it’s a low-impact sport making it suitable for any age and any physical fit level, the action of wading through water builds balance and strength in the legs core, and back muscle.
Wading into the waters of fly fishing builds new skills and confidence. Fly fishing teaches us patience, the importance of being in the moment, the understanding of the need to slow down, it teaches us perseverance, and learning to go with the flow of the river mending the line along life’s ever-changing currents.
The ATTF sisters have developed our Women’s Fly Fishing & the Brain Wellness Program with Retreats Combining Fly Fishing, Yoga, Community, and Education.
Unplug— Rest— Reconnect —Reset.
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Bibliography Scott Edward Harvard Medical School 2015 article Fly fishing and the Brain Kniestedt Foundation www.kniestedt.org article Fly Fishing and the Brain