#1. IMPROVE YOUR AEROBIC CAPABILITIES
Playing tennis involves a lot of running back and forth along the court, yet you won’t even notice all of the exercise you’re getting as you focus on one thing – hitting the ball! As a result, you are building up your stamina and aerobic capabilities while having a great time.
#2. IMPROVE YOUR PHYSICAL HEALTH
There are many ways that tennis improves your overall physical health such as lowering your resting heart rate and decreasing your blood pressure. In addition, it can lower body fat while improving muscle tone, strength and flexibility, as well as improving metabolic function.
#3. USE A FULL RANGE OF MUSCLES
You use so many different muscles when playing tennis – from your upper-body to your lower-body. In the lower body you work out the calves, hamstrings, quads and gluts. At the same time, your core is getting a good workout including your abs, erector spinae, obliques, and latissimus dorsi. As for your upper body, you’re working out the chest muscles, upper back, shoulders, and arms.
#4. ADDED BRAIN POWER
You might not expect to be growing your brain power while playing a heated game of tennis, but in fact, you are! Tennis has been shown to improve critical thinking skills, along with mental alertness and tactical thinking. It does so by forcing your brain to make certain connections.
In addition, tennis gives you a boost of serotonin, an important brain chemical that has been linked to sleep cycle, emotional wellbeing, and appetite. That means playing a game of tennis can help you get a better night’s sleep and regulate your emotions – a win-win for your emotional and physical health.
#5. A CHANCE TO SOCIALIZE
Tennis is a team sport as well as a competitive sport, which means you’ll need more than one person to play. As a result, it becomes a social sport that’ll get you out talking and hanging out with other people. This is good for the mind and body, as well as your overall wellbeing and happiness. The time spent bonding over a game of tennis is very physiologically rewarding.
#6. HELPS PREVENT DISEASE
By helping keep cholesterol low and your lipid profile in check, tennis helps fight and prevent disease. That means you’re at a reduced risk for developing hypertension or cardiovascular issues, as well as suffering from a stroke.
#7. WEIGHT LOSS
Playing tennis regularly can help you to shed some unwanted pounds. The constant running, stretching, and pivoting, while using every inch of your body, burns a lot of calories. Play long enough and you’ll tap into stored fat.
The American Dietetic Association reports that recreational tennis players can burn as much as 600 to 1,320 calories by playing two hours of single sessions. Competitive players can hope to burn anywhere from 768 to 1,728 calories.
#8. REDUCE STRESS
We all need ways to reduce stress – after all, stress is a part of our everyday modern lives. Tennis offers a fun way to lower stress levels and free your mind of anxiety. Many other forms of exercise still allow your mind to race around. For instance, it’s easy to ponder work stress or what you’ll make for dinner while running on the treadmill, but if you let your mind wander during tennis, you’ll lose track of the ball.