Tennis: Get Sporty

According to statistics tracked by the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, Tennis is the fastest-growing traditional sport in America. I love it because it’s inexpensive, widely accessible year-round, and the whole family can play. It doesn’t hurt that it has been proven to reduce your middle, improve strength and flexibility; improve balance, agility and overall coordination, while getting you in tip-top shape.

Tennis was invented around several thousand years ago by European monks. Most fitness centers now offer cardio tennis classes in which you do drills to music. A 135-pound woman playing an hour of tennis can burn 420 calories during a singles match, according to the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center. To learn more about ruling your own court, visit the United States Tennis Association, or call your local YMCA or Tennis club.