7 Reasons Why Playing Tennis Will Improve Your Overall Health

In the pantheon of great American sports, there is one that stands out. It has been called the great American passtime. Yes, that great sport known as tennis. Its an engaging interest that can be developed to keep yourself in great shape. Tennis, a famous racket sport that can be played individually against a single opponent( singles ) or between two teams of two players each ( doubles ).I have always loved tennis; be it watching or playing. It gears up your physical and mental alertness.Whether you’ve never picked up a tennis racquet in your life, or yours has collected some dust over the years, it’s never too late to get into the game and experience the benefits of playing tennis!

Here are 7 ways participating in tennis can improve your overall health, wellness, and happiness!

The Perfect Social Activity

Tennis can be played as doubles or singles, but either way you have to play with another person. Being able to socialize with opponents and partners is a huge benefit of the game! You are also around others who share similar interests and goals, which is very physiologically rewarding. It’s a great way for young players to make friends and develop their social skills.

Boost Brain Power

Think of tennis as a zero calorie brain food! Playing tennis can improve critical thinking, mental alertness, and tactical thinking by making connections in the brain. Tennis also helps regulate serotonin—a brain chemical linked to functions such as sleep cycle, appetite, and your emotional state. Having trouble sleeping or keeping your emotions in check? Hit the court!

Fight and Prevent Disease

Tennis helps keep your lipid profile in check, keeping cholesterol low. This can decrease your chance of suffering from stroke, hypertension, and cardiovascular issues.

Improved Agility, Flexibility and Balance

Have you ever watched tennis on TV and the players are constantly stretching and reaching to keep a ball in play? Tennis is a sport where you are constantly moving, changing direction and stretching your body. By playing tennis on a regular basis, you will also notice an improvement in agility and flexibility.

Note: Make sure you stretch well before and after your matches!

Weight Loss

Tennis is a great cardio workout, especially if you’re playing singles. You’re constantly running, pivoting, stretching, and moving every inch of your body. According to the American Dietetic Association, recreational players can burn an estimated 600 to 1,320 calories per two-hour singles sessions while competitive players can burn between 768 to 1,728 calories.

Note: To lose 1 pound of fat you must burn 3,500 calories

Stress Relief

We all have stresses in our lives—but tennis is a wonderful way to help combat that stress! The problem with simply going for a run or jumping on an elliptical is you still have the ability to let your mind race, “What am I going to make for dinner? How many calories am I burning? I still have so much to do before the end of the week, I have a huge deadline at work.” The list goes on. When you play tennis, your mind is forced to focus of the task at hand instead of focusing on your stresses and endless to-do lists. Think of it as a little vacation for your brain!

It’s a Life-Time Sport

Unlike most sports, tennis can be played at any age. You don’t see many 60, 70, or even 80-year-olds playing tackle football or running up and down a soccer field. But many retirees still play and enjoy the game of tennis. It is a game that can be played easily with friends and friends of all ages and all fitness levels!

Avoiding injury

Avoid playing with a pre-existing illness or injury. If in doubt, talk to a medical practitioner. Warm up your muscles and joints before hitting the court. Maintain an adequate fitness level. Undertake conditioning and training exercises specific to the physical demands of tennis. Avoid over-repetition of any one type of shot. Practise a range of strokes including ground strokes, serves, return of serves, overhead smashes and volleys.
Ensure you have plenty of fluids on hand and drink regularly. Depending on your age and condition, don’t overdo it.