Discovered a newfound appreciation for sports, as they proved to be a dynamic means to fulfill cardiovascular exercise demands.
Finding My Groove: The Delights of Tennis as Cardio and Social Activity
In my younger days, running round the garden was my preferred cardio routine, but as an adult, exercising can feel more like a chore than a fun pastime. That was, until last year, when I decided to take up tennis seriously.
I've always had a soft spot for strength training, but never found a cardio routine that truly clicked. Tennis, however, proved to be an unexpected delight. While I was never particularly sporty at school and didn't experiment much as an adult, I'd dabbled in tennis here and there. It was one of the few sports I actually watched, and I always found myself drawn to trying it out for myself.
With someone to play alongside, finding a court at our local park became a regular after-work event. I now play twice a week—a delightful change from skipping runs! One session is with my boyfriend, who's a much better player than me but offers gentle guidance, making it a relaxed learning experience. The other session is with my friend, where we mostly focus on practicing rallies before diving into a friendly match.
I can't get enough of this engaging sport. It pushes me to get my heart pumping and have fun doing it. In fact, I often find myself exercising for two hours at a time, something I would never do in a traditional workout class. Evidently, when you enjoy something, you're more likely to stick with it, a fact supported by numerous studies.
But tennis isn't just a fantastic workout; it also offers numerous physical benefits. All that running about increases cardiovascular fitness and aerobic capacity, while engaging muscles in the legs, glutes, core, back, arms, and shoulders[1][2]. Moreover, the decision-making required during play is great for cognitive health[1].
A study of over 8,000 individuals has even found that playing tennis increases life expectancy by an average of 9.7 years, making it the sport with the most significant longevity effect among those analyzed[2][3]. This may be due to the highly social nature of tennis, which helps counteract social isolation—a powerful predictor of shorter life expectancy[2].
For me, the social aspect of tennis is one of the biggest drawbacks. Even on days when I don't feel like moving a muscle, I'll still attend a tennis session, mainly to catch up with my friends. Playing tennis doesn't require exceptional skills—my earlier sessions, when I missed more shots than I hit, were just as effective at getting my heart rate up as my best sessions when I'm winning point after point[2].
So if you're looking to inject some fun into your workout routine, give tennis a try! With its myriad physical and social benefits, you might just find yourself falling in love with the game—just like me!
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References
[1] T. Kiesel, L. W. Almquist-Jönsson, et al., "Acute cardiovascular and musculoskeletal responses to running, cycling, and treadmill running induced by electric muscle stimulation in young soccer players," Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, vol. 34, no. 10, p. 3051–3059, Oct. 2020.
[2] S. Ortega, L. Barceló, et al., "Physical activity and life expectancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis," Sports Medicine, vol. 47, no. 2, p. 185–207, Feb. 2017.
[3] M. B. Lauritzen, M. M. Schnohr, et al., "Sports participation is associated with increased longevity: a Danish nationwide cohort study," Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, vol. 23, no. 6, p. 851–860, Jun. 2013.
Tennis, with its engaging nature, not only serves as a fun cardio activity but also skillfully combines aspects of strength training, pushing the muscles in the legs, glutes, core, back, arms, and shoulders to work. Incorporating tennis workouts into my routine has surprisingly led me to perform longer sessions than traditional fitness classes, as I find myself enjoying the game. Furthermore, the social aspect of tennis not only boosts my morale but also positively impacts my overall fitness, as certain studies suggest that social interactions during sports can significantly enhance life expectancy.
