Just one of the cardio tennis drills

Former Wimbledon tennis pro Warren Urquhart and his team of coaches at Cayman Sports Ltd are bringing to Cayman a fitness workout that has proven popular in the US.

Cardio tennis is a group activity featuring fast-paced drills and exercise stations to give a high-energy workout which combines traditional tennis practice with other endurance exercises, says the company. Participants can get in shape while improving their tennis skills.

Cardio Tennis is designed for players of all levels, and Urquhart explains he will control the activity to challenge people while keeping their heart rate up for longer periods.

The goal is to reach 65 percent to 85 percent of the participant’s maximum heart rate and sustain that for 45 minutes.

To accomplish this requires short cycles of high intensity workouts and periods of rest similar to interval training, and when people are not hitting the ball they will be doing sideline exercises, combining playing tennis with a workout.

“People are always looking for something new to mix up their normal fitness routine,” said Urquhart. “As opposed to running and hitting the gym which can be repetitive and boring, Cardio Tennis offers an energetic fitness alternative, in a fun social environment.

“During each hour you will improve your tennis skills, burn a ton of calories, get a total body workout, and best of all you are having fun and working on your health and longevity.”

He explained that he would try to ensure that the groups are as evenly matched as possible. There will be several advanced sessions a week for the island’s stronger players, as well as classes geared for the beginner so they are not intimidated on the tennis court.