keeping your fitness resolution this year

If you belong to a local fitness center, you might have a set workout routine that you follow during each visit. For example, you might stretch, run on one of the treadmills for a short period, and then lift some free weights. It never hurts to consider what other fitness opportunities are available, as pursuing something different — even just once a week — can add some variety to your workouts. Take a walk around your fitness center to see what opportunities are available. Many centers have one or more squash courts. This is an activity that you can learn quickly and that can offer numerous fitness advantages.

Burns Calories Quickly

A lot of people pursue squash at their local fitness center because this activity helps them to burn calories quickly. The rate that you burn calories while playing squash depends on several factors, including your body weight and how much running you do. As a rough average, you can expect to burn more than 500 calories in just half an hour of playing squash. If you use a treadmill or a stationary bicycle that tracks your calorie burning, consider how these workouts compare to the calories that you burn in squash.

Helps With Flexibility

There are all sorts of exercises that can help you to burn calories but that may not help with flexibility to the same extent as squash. If one of your fitness goals is to become more flexible, squash can help. In this game, you'll contort your body in all sorts of ways. You'll bend low to make contact with balls that are just a few inches off the ground, lean to each side as you swing your racket, and more. While you might initially feel stiff during some of these movements, repeated squash games can lead to better flexibility.

Improves Hand-Eye Coordination

Squash can also help you to build better hand-eye coordination, given that this is necessary for making solid contact with the ball. You may have trouble hitting the ball during your first few games, but you shouldn't be surprised to eventually notice an improvement in this area. A lot of other exercises, including running, don't have an impact on your hand-eye coordination. Better hand-eye coordination can have a positive impact on other areas of your life; you may notice a positive change in your work or in your hobbies.

Learn more about squash at your local fitness center.