Table Tennis Tips: Exercise … who me?

By Dr. Timothy W. Stremmel and Mr. Joe Brandt

Aerobic exercise … in the middle of winter … ARE YOU KIDDING ME???

Now that wintertime is here, most outdoor sports or activities can be uncomfortably cold. Cold weather makes it easy to just stop exercising. But, keep in mind that regular exercise is vital for the body, for the mind, and for your general well being.

Since exercise is so important, especially during the winter months, you may want to consider an indoor sport. How about coming out to play table tennis with us at the North East Alabama Table Tennis Club (NEATT) on Tuesdays and Saturdays at the Anniston Army Depot Gym? We are going strong all year long!

Table Tennis is a wonderful indoor sport and a good aerobic exercise that works on all of the major muscle groups of your body. It is a continuous series of movements of your upper and lower body.

Whether in a practice session or during a match, your body is challenged to move in all different directions at all times.

While playing, the heart rate remains elevated, and your body is supplied with increased blood flow and oxygen at the same time (a cardiovascular benefit).

Table tennis also maintains a good healthy range of motion of all of the joints in the body. This is certainly important for life’s daily activities.

While keeping in mind all of the above, don’t forget the mental workout. Your mind is constantly challenged to focus on the ball coming at you. Think of the amount of concentration required to move your body in response to your opponent’s attack, while still planning your own return shot. Smart playing style, mental focus, and strategy can all lead to points in a match.

By playing table tennis you get all of these benefits. This remains true whether you are a beginner or a seasoned veteran of the game.

Tip of the Week

Prepare yourself before playing with a light cardio workout. Start out by walking around and moving your arms, legs, neck and back. Light jogging will help to warm up and soften the major muscle groups. Stretch the major muscles in your arms, legs, neck, and back for about 5-10 minutes to loosen up. This will help you play better and also can prevent serious injury.

Focus your mind on the game, your strategies, and your goals. Don’t let your mind get clouded by dwelling on previous mistakes or other things that might be going on in your life.

Practice your body movements by “drilling” with another player. Continue working on your technique while hitting the ball back and forth. Try hitting a combination of both forehand and backhand shots until you feel loose.

Now, you are finally ready to play some exciting table tennis matches. Last, but certainly not least, HAVE LOTS OF FUN!!!

So, for all of you who want to learn more or have played before and would like to help coach others, come join a dedicated group of table tennis fans. For more information contact Jason Stancil at 256-591-4553 or Mike Harris at 256-238-6453 or visit us at www.neatt.us.