Cardio Tennis serves up a workout with a twist


Tennis is an exciting sport that incorporates fitness, strategy and technical skill.  The game has now entered a new phase in the form of “Cardio Tennis.”

The modern game of tennis developed in the late 19th century.  Since then, the rules have changed very little. The original lawn surface has added options of clay and a variety of artificial surfaces.

The tennis racquet has undergone dramatic change from its origins.  Originally made from wood with thick strings, the incorporation of space age materials and dramatic changes in the shape and surface area of the racquet over the past 40 years has resulted in an implement that bears little resemblance to its predecessors.

Tennis is a sport that requires episodic bursts of activity that can require extreme fitness as demonstrated by long, intense professional-level volleys or a slow-paced doubles match.

Cardio Tennis is a training program that incorporates tennis skills with a high-energy aerobic work out.  Like other forms of aerobic exercise, the goal is to raise the athlete’s heart rate to a safe level and maintain that level of exertion.

In Cardio Tennis, the emphasis is on the fitness component and ability to burn calories rather than the ability to play tennis.  Constant movement during the hour-long class is combined with returning forehand and backhand volleys.  The groups consist of up to eight participants of varying ages and skills.

“Cardio Tennis is perfect for people looking for an unintimidating, cardiac workout that is designed for all fitness levels,” said Bobby Schlink, a USPTA certified tennis professional who teaches Cardio Tennis at the Lyme Shores Tennis Center.

Multiple studies have confirmed that aerobic exercise performed for sixty minutes three times per week can increase longevity.  Cardio Tennis is one way to achieve that health goal.

 


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