Guest Post: How to Be More Successful... by Bowling?

If you read this blog, you're probably a goal-oriented person and always find yourself working hard. But sometimes, you just need to relax!

A hobby like bowling is a great way to de-stress, which can actually help you succeed in your career even more!

Joan Bentsen (our founder Martin Bentsen's mom) specializes in teaching bowling tips and is here today to talk about some of the benefits of bowling to help you become even more successful in your career!

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Article by Joan Bentsen:

​People need to have a good life/work balance in order to stay healthy. They say too much stress can shorten your life span. Because bowling is a physical activity, there are so many health benefits that can be gained by joining a weekly league or just bowling a few games over the weekends:

• Lowering your cholesterol: LDL (bad cholesterol) collects in the walls of the blood vessels and builds up over time which doesn’t leave much space for blood to flow. LDL is caused from things like smoking, eating foods high in fat, family history, and inactivity. Regular physical activity like bowling can help lower bad cholesterol by 15% and can raise HDL (the good cholesterol) by 20%. HDL carries cholesterol away from the arteries back to the liver where it belongs.
  
• Lowering your risk of stroke: Half a million people suffer from a stroke each year and most will have a lengthy rehabilitation ahead of them toward some type of recovery. Exercise improves blood pressure, the health of blood vessels and reduces obesity which are all causes of strokes. Studies indicate that active individuals have a 25% lower risk of stroke incidence than those who remain inactive.
  
• Increasing Bone Density: Age, certain medications, and illnesses can cause a condition that makes bones become thin and more brittle. This condition is called “Osteoporosis”. People who have this condition are at a much greater risk for broken bones if they should fall. Bones are living tissue and will change for the better when forces are placed upon them. The weight of a heavy ball can help bones become more dense over time and help maintain healthy strong bones.
  
• Burning extra calories: Everyone knows that a body in motion will burn more calories than a body at rest. Before I joined a league, I was a couch potato. Getting out there each week, I have lost a bit of weight and feel great. You can burn 80-100 calories for every 20 minutes you are bowling, and bowling three games a week is like walking a mile.
  
• Increasing blood flow to feel more energized: You would think that if you’re tired you should just rest, but actually the opposite is true. Physical activities increase blood flow and when the blood is flowing, your body receives more oxygen which gives you more energy. Walking just 10 minutes can give you an extra two hours of feeling more energized so bowling three games will be even better.
  
• Improving hand/eye coordination: Throwing a bowling ball and hitting the pins requires a certain amount of hand/eye coordination. The bowler must focus on timing, to be able to deliver the ball properly onto the lane, and must concentrate on hitting a specific target, which stimulates mental alertness.  

These are just a few of the many benefits that can come from a weekly physical activity like Bowling.

It’s also lots of fun and a great way to spend quality time with family and friends. Mixed groups can play together, and since it’s played indoors, it can be played at any time of the year. It’s inexpensive and a fun way to meet new people, which can help grow your professional network too. Over time, you can master the sport and even make some extra cash by winning in various tournaments.

 So do yourself and your loved ones a favor by staying healthy and signing up for some kind of weekly physical activity, like bowling!!


Learn more about Joan Bentsen's bowling expertise at Joanie's Bowling Blog.