Read on to learn more.
But tennis is different.
Its more than a workoutits an activity that requires fitness, focus, strategy, and determination.
Most importantly, its really freaking fun.
If youve ever been the slightest bit tennis-curious, its definitely worth picking up a racket.
And Im not just saying this because I want more hitting partners.
a former collegiate tennis player and tennis teaching professional atLiberty Park Tennis Centerin Salt Lake City, Utah
The benefits of tennis include social, mental, and physical perks.
You have to run, and you have to push off with your legs.
And its not just your legs that get stronger.
Its afull-body workout, Cox says.
And then youre swinging the racket with your arm.
The tennis players showed much better upper-body muscle and joint functions and also had better lower-body function.
Beyond building muscular strength, tennis will also supercharge your cardiovascular system.
And the best part?
As you improve, it never gets easier.
a former collegiate tennis player and tennis teaching professional atLiberty Park Tennis Centerin Salt Lake City, Utah
The rallies get longer, the ball comes faster, and your opponents get better.
(Okay, maybe thats not good news for everyone.)
Tennis isnt just a sport; its a way of life.
Its more than a workoutit requires fitness, focus, strategy, and determination.
Most importantly, its really freaking fun.
If you stick with it, that number increases.
Maintaining a rally becomes addictive.
Youll be at it for hours without even realizing it.
Part of the fun is the progress you make, Frazier explains.
Nobodys good at tennis at first, lets be real, he says.
But coordination is a learned skill.
And it just takes a little bit of timemuch less than you thinkto get to a reasonable social level.
The mental challenge of improving and meeting personal goals is significant.
Cox has lessons with clients that range in age from 5 to 82 years old.
Despite their varying aims, they all shared a common desire: to get better.
This drive keeps you learning and prevents stagnation.
Tennis is so gray.
Its not black and white.
It teaches resilience
Tennis is an emotionally taxing sport.
Youll have days where your racket is on fire and you cant miss a shot.
Youre competing mostly against yourself, Frazier says.
Its an important lesson that goes beyond the confines of the court.
It helps you be mindful
We all know theimportance of staying grounded and presentmindfulness is popular for a reason.
The intense concentration is hard to achieve.
But if you try, it can serve as an incrediblemoving meditation.
I deal with this at every levelfrom the high-performance players to the people who are just beginning.
It boils down to focusing big time and what can you focus on?
How can you compartmentalize?
When you practice that time and time again, it gets easier.
Its physically and mentally engaging, and its really cool to feel like youre always improving at something.
Graeme Cox, tennis coach
6.
As an adult, its tough outside of work to make time to make friends, Frazier says.
But having an excuse like tennis lends a hand to increasing social interactions.
And since tennis is really a two-player or more game, it manufactures these environments.
It seems like people from all different jobs and all different walks of life come together through tennis.
And unlike fitness classes or group runs, theres a built-in culture of connection in the tennis community.
In almost every city, there are clinics for all levels and ages.
These fun, group lessons are an awesome way to be welcomed into the tennis community.
Its for life
You mightve heard that tennis is a lifelong sport, and its true.
Its an excellent sport as you age because it combines physical fitness, mental acuity, and socialization.
More recentresearch4showed older tennis players have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression.
Cox also says tennis keeps older adults engaged and mentally active.
They want to keep their mind ticking over.
In fact, Coxs father played tennis until he was 87 years old.
He would constantly tell me how he was getting betterthats what makes tennis so great, Cox says.
Its physically and mentally engaging, and its really cool to feel like youre always improving at something.
Jackson MJ, Roche DM, Amirabdollahian F, Koehn S, Khaiyat OA.
The Musculoskeletal Health Benefits of Tennis.
2020 Jan/Feb;12(1):80-87. doi: 10.1177/1941738119880862.
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