CARDIO TENNIS: Mike Reynolds, Gorleston Lawn Tennis Club Chairman, writes - Cardio tennis gives all of us the ability to achieve that cardiovascular workout and have lots of fun at the same time.

CARDIO TENNIS: Mike Reynolds, Gorleston Lawn Tennis Club Chairman, writes - Cardio tennis gives all of us the ability to achieve that cardiovascular workout and have lots of fun at the same time. The health benefits are many fold and this activity is rapidly gaining popularity in the UK, including as use for corporate team-building.

Many health and fitness devotees have grown bored with monotonous workouts in gyms. Cardio tennis provides an enjoyable, outdoor, sociable, group activity, regardless of tennis ability or level of fitness.

Tennis players who had left the game are returning to the courts because, in cardio tennis, there is no 'downtime'. It raises the heart rate to aerobic levels and keeps it in that optimal zone for an hour.

People who would normally not have the confidence to walk onto a tennis court also get great satisfaction from hitting lots of tennis balls during a cardio tennis session, as the emphasis is on moving to hit the ball and not on where it goes. Cardio tennis burns about twice the amount of calories per hour than singles tennis, so it is popular with weight-watchers. It came to the UK from America just over two years ago. High-tempo music sets the pace for many different drills and games using tennis equipment.

Cardio tennis is held at Gorleston Tennis Club (near Cliff Park Junior School) on Friday evenings and Sunday mornings. Other times can be arranged.

For further details contact Mike on 01493 604062.