Written by Stewart Perrie.
Now that the dust has well and truly settled on the new year, you're probably trying to ensure you keep up that 'New Year, New Me' attitude.
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If getting fit and healthy was one of those resolutions you made as 2021 came to a close and you're wondering how you're going to achieve that then you should look at tennis.
I don't mean literally look at it, as that won't do anything; but picking up a racquet and having a rally could be a really great component to an active lifestyle.
Because tennis is loads of fun to play, you probably wouldn't notice that you can take thousands of steps as you're running back and forth across the court.
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"It has been calculated that an hour-long game of singles tennis burns around 600 calories for men and 420 calories for women," according to Vic Health.
Playing tennis can increase your aerobic capacity, bone density, and reaction times, as well as improve your metabolic function, muscle tone, strength and flexibility (just make sure you warm up and cool down).
But you also might not be aware of the other benefits it can have.
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It's a great stress reliever as you get to bash the hell out of that ball hundreds of times. It's also a really good social activity that can boost existing relationships or create new ones by joining a club.
You can integrate tennis into a catch up with a mate and chat while you play, or use it as a fun, competitive exercise before grabbing a coffee or some food. It's also a great mood booster because it gets you outside in the sunshine.
While you will certainly use nearly every part of your body during tennis, one big benefit from choosing it as a sport is that it's non-contact.
Sure, you might cop a tennis ball to the eye if you're not careful, however at least you're not getting tackled to the ground.
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The sport is great because people of all ages, shapes and sizes can partake.
Because it's so well-known and widespread, chances are there will be a tennis court near you. So if you've been keen to try it for your 2022 fitness plan then you can head over to the Play Tennis website and see where the closest one is.
They have over 700 tennis courts in their system and they're usually open all across the day, which means you have no excuse not to do it before work, on your lunch break or after the day is done and dusted.
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If you're lucky enough to be close to one with lights, then the fun can rage on well after the sun has set.
Featured Image Credit: Stock Image