Top Reasons Why Table Tennis is Great to Play
Table tennis is more than a fun way to spend time with family and friends. Although often wrongly disregarded by the sports fans around the world, this physical activity will keep your body, mind, and spirit extra fit.
If you have free time on your hands and want to use it to boost your overall health, while still having an enjoyable time, these are some of the reasons why you should consider playing table tennis.
Great Stress Reliever
We are living in a fast-paced world. With so many things happening in our personal and professional lives, it’s no wonder we are walking around feeling anxious and stressed all the time. However, there is a great way to decompress and let go of all that negative energy.
When things start to get too much, table tennis is the answer. All you have to do is pick up your paddle and start hitting the balls. Soon enough, just like with any workout, endorphins will be released into your bloodstream and you will feel much better. In the end, it will clear your head, give you a fresh perspective on some things that were bothering you, and a new strength to tackle the problems in your life.
Brain Stimulation
Multiple studies have shown that playing table tennis has a positive effect on your brain. There is an evident increase in motor skills and cognitive awareness and clinical studies performed in Japan suggest that it could maybe prevent dementia due to the greater flow of blood to the brain.
This sport stimulates different areas of your brain simultaneously. A complex and layered game, as described by the experts from PingPongRuler.com, it provides for a perfect environment to upgrade your mental skill set. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for planning your strategic moves and will allow you to anticipate the opponent's shots. Also, as a great aerobic exercise, it will send sparks to the hippocampus, region primarily associated with learning new things and memory.
Burns Calories
All that running back and forth, catching balls from all directions, will increase your heart rate and help you lose weight. Playing ping pong could be a great alternative for those who don't like going to the gym. This is a fun and easy way to burn calories. By playing for an hour, a person weighing 68kg can burn approximately 272 calories.
Improves Hand-Eye Coordination and Reflexes
This is a fast sport. The ball can travel up to 100kph and although this doesn't make it unique, what makes a huge difference is the short distance between the players. With them being only 3 meters apart, the ball seems to move much faster. Given the circumstances, you need to be equally fast on your feet and with quick reactions to be good in ping pong.
The more you play, the better your reflexes are going to be. Your muscles are going to develop and your movements will improve. Also, your observation skills and concentration will become better and you will be able to develop and use strategic moves against your opponent. needless to say, all this will serve you well in your everyday life.
For People of All Ages
The table tennis community is open for people of all ages. Kids as well as elders will be able to enjoy it and get some needed exercise. When it comes to this sport, age really is just a number. A 60-year-old could beat a 20-year-old without even breaking a sweat.
Agility is an important factor but so are proper techniques and the ability to plan in advance. So, even if you’re not at your prime in terms of physical condition, you can still have a good chance of winning a game.
For people who have problems with back, ankles, wrists, and ankles this is a good form of physical activity since it doesn't require individuals to be highly flexible. You will be able to improve your leg, arm, and core strength without injuring your joints.
Bringing People Together
With smartphones becoming our primary method of communication, people are becoming more and more secluded. Deciding to play table tennis will make you more social, create new, and reinforcing old friendships. It can also bridge the age gap. You will be able to meet and build relationships with people from different age groups and from all walks of life.
If you're looking for some kind of physical activity that will make you stronger, more stress-resistant, and more mentally sharp, you should consider table tennis. Not only will practicing this sport do all that, but it will also lift your spirit and make you more social.
It connects people from different generations and makes the whole process of becoming fitter much more interesting and enjoyable. If you find gyms boring, this action-packed hobby could be a great replacement.
