13 WAYS TO BEAT STRESS IN THE BAYOU CITY
From traffic and weather to jobs and homes, the city offers plenty of reasons for Houstonians to be stressed out. Add the summer heat and the looming threat of hurricanes, and there’s more fuel for anxiety.
In fact, at the end of 2017, Harris County residents were experiencing serious psychological distress at levels rarely seen in the United States, according to a survey conducted by the University of Texas School of Public Health. No doubt a Harvey hangover was contributing to that. With mere mention of the word “hurricane” there are probably some PTSD flashes hitting a lot of us right now.
But Houston also offers some unique ways to burn through the stress of living in the Bayou City. Including, of course, throwing axes.
This month marks the first anniversary of the opening of Sharpstown’s Houston Axe Throwing, the first indoor urban axe throwing location in Texas.
Co-owner Sarah Sed said that she’s seeing more people coming in to throw axes to extinguish daily stress. It’s easier than it looks, once you get the hang of it.
“Our most common comment from people is, honestly, that it’s satisfying to chop some wood,” Sed said. “A few of our league players will show up after they’ve finished a big project at work and tell me they’ve been looking forward to league all day or even all week to blow off some steam.” Some Houstonians are opting out of their own daily reality and spending time in a virtual one.
“Stepping into another world of your choosing has always been the goal of entertainment, from books onto movies and now into the new immersive mediums we’re seeing, like virtual reality and augmented reality,” said David Haney with StudioVR Arcade.
His company is based in an office building in the Galleria area, and his clients pay a fee to
come inside and explore virtual worlds via headsets. Some people take virtual boxing classes while others opt to shoot killer orcs with arrows in a medieval world.
For some guests, stress seems to melt away after an hour or so somewhere else.
“I get a ton of folks that do express that they feel better afterwards, most likely due to the combination of light physical activity and the high levels of visual and auditory sensory stimulation,” Haney said. “I know several people that do guided meditation and other stuff like that in VR, specifically to decompress and destress,” Haney said.
He says that just by doing VR exercises and eating better he’s lost over 75 pounds this past year.
“We have a group that comes in and does VR fitness on Sundays, and everyone involved is expressing how much better they feel after a session,” Haney said. “The really cool thing about it all is you’re so engaged with what you’re doing in that world that you don’t realize what a workout you’re putting in until you’ve taken off the headset.”
Tossing axes or fooling your senses into thinking they’re in a different reality might not be your ideal way to tamp down the stress swells. But read through this list and you should find something that can get the job done — from breaking things to jumping out of planes.
TANTRUMS
At Tantrums, Houston’s premiere “rage room,” customers can rent a room full of breakable things and then trash it. Seriously, this almost sounds too good to be true.
When: Noon-4 p.m. and 6-10 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, closed Sundays-Mondays Where: 1730 Elmview Details: $30-$60 for timed sessions, $125 for a themed room; 832-804-8985, tantrumsllc.com
CURLING
Yes, Houston has its own curling club and they are always looking for new people to sweep ice as a cool rock slides toward a target. Plus, it’s on ice — which, in the summer, sounds like a dream.
Details: The club is hosting a “learn and curl” event at 7 p.m. July 6; visit houstoncurling.com for more information about events and membership
SPACE CITY FLOAT CENTER
Located in Montrose, the center offers an escape from daily stresses inside a specially made float room. Don’t worry, you won’t drown.
When: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays, closed Mondays Where: 1407 Hawthorne Details: Floats start at $90 an hour; 713-523-7232, spacecityfloat.com
HOUSTON AXE THROWING
Over at Houston Axe Throwing, guests are taught how to
throw axes with the greatest of ease. They even allow beer and wine. Where: 6734 Larkwood, Suite B Details: By appointment only; $25 for a 90 minute session; 832-930-2937, houstonaxe.com
TEXAS ROCK GYM
Texas Rock Gym has been showing Houstonians how to rock climb since 1996. According to its website, the location also offers yoga and tai chi, which are both noted ways to relieve stress. But, we recommend the rock climbing. Where: 1526 Campbell Details: First-time climber packages are $35-$40; 713-9737625, texasrockgym.com
HIGH GROUND AIRSOFT
Up in Spring, at High Ground Airsoft, customers can shoot plastic BBs at each other in an enclosed street scene. It’s like paintball, but the bruises are likely much smaller.
When: Noon-11 p.m. FridaysSaturdays, noon-8 p.m. Sundays, Tuesdays-Thursdays, closed Mondays Where: 100 Cypresswood, Suite 1302, Spring Details: Packages start at $25; 281-771-3126, highgroundairsoft.com
HOUSTON SWORD SPORTS
Houston Sword Sports is a fencing club that caters to beginners and experienced fencers who want to explore the dynamic sport. Sometimes, swinging a sword at a person in protective gear pushes the stress away. Where: 10371 Stella Link Details: 832-674-0774, houstonswords.com
TOPGOLF
Even if you are horrible at golf, swinging the clubs at TopGolf, which features a full bar and food menu, can help push out the jive. With three locations in the area, you are never far from a range. Where: Locations in Katy, Spring and Webster Details: topgolf.com
BATTING CAGES
What better way to relieve stress than by exercising your inner George Springer? U.S. Golf & Games near Almeda Mall operates one of the city’s mostloved public batting cages. A handful of quarters usually sets most of us straight. The batting cage hasn’t changed much since the early ’90s. Plus, it’s open every day of the year.
When: 11 a.m.-midnight Fridays, 9 a.m.-midnight Saturdays, noon-8 p.m. Sundays, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays. Where: 10106 Thermon Details: 713-943-2299, usgolfandgames.com
STUDIOVR ARCADE
Located in the Galleria area, StudioVR Arcade lets clients dive into strange virtual worlds and fight orcs, space aliens,and other baddies. A catalog of boxing and soccer games also will keep you moving. When: By appointment Where: 2323 S. Voss, Suite 670 Details: $20 for 60 minutes, $30 for 120 minutes; 281-8147180, studiovrhou.com
SWEAT 1000
This Heights-area concept gym offers one-hour, sweatladen classes with various exercise drills that leave regulars feeling drained, but accomplished. Where: 725 W. 18th Details: facebook.com/ SWEAT1000HoustonHeights
SKYDIVE SPACELAND
This Rosharon-area attraction has been pushing people out of planes for years. The rush will likely melt away any office headaches. When: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 7:30 a.m. to sunset on weekends Where: 16111 FM 521, Rosharon Details: First jumps start at $199; 281-369-3337, houston .skydivespaceland.com
IFLY
Or you could settle for something closer to the ground with iFLY, which offers the skydiving experience without getting into a plane — thanks to wind turbine technology.
When: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturdays, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Sundays, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays Where: 9540 Insterstate 10 W. Details: Packages start at $79.95; 281-942-4359, ifly world.com/houston-memorial