Benefits of the World’s Healthiest Sport-Squash

‘Sports’ to the Millennials meant fun & exercise. Collecting all friends to form teams, setting a strategy & winning was just rewarding. Unfortunately, with dreading work hours, today the Millennials choose to keep sports at bay and lead an obese, inactive & boring life.

The solution to reverse this?

An hour of Squash, every day.

Forbes Magazine in 2003 listed the world’s healthiest sports, ranking Squash on position one. This sport defeated running, boxing & swimming in terms of endurance & ranked average in potential injuries. Originating in England, Squash today is a reputed international sport.

So what is Squash?

Squash is a racquet sport. Played indoor without a net. This sport requires a minimum of two players. The players play in a four-walled court with a tiny hollow rubber ball. Once the ball is served, the players take turns hitting the ball against the front wall, above the tin & below the out-line with just one bounce.

Benefits of Playing Squash

Given that Squash is the world’s healthiest sport, an hour of Squash helps lose 600–1000 calories. It also promises magnificent changes in physical, mental & emotional well-being.

Physical benefits of Squash

· Extensive Cardio Exercise

Squash involves a lot of running to hit the ball. This automatically results in a faster heart rate. To accommodate this change, the heart pumps faster resulting in stronger muscles, better pumping rate, continual flow of blood and lower chances of cardiac blockages.

Over time, this stabilizes blood pressure levels and improves heart health.

· Superior Coordination with flexibility

With every service in Squash, the whole body moves to hit it. Starting from the brain, which coordinates with the eye, heart, lung, hands, torso and legs. These organs thus move systematically and in complete coordination to make the hit. This rhythmic collaboration brings flexibility from the face to the feet muscles. Providing muscle flexibility.

· Healthy Weight loss and Toned body

By shedding 600–1000 calories per hour of squash, a player can easily transform to a healthy weight & toned structure. Squash also provides a dedication & discipline towards the game that is essential on a mental level for weight loss. Who knew a fit body was this fun?

· Delaying inherited diseases

Apart from sedimentary lifestyle diseases, the human body can be impacted by multiple genetically inherited diseases. These can include diabetes, premature ageing, cholesterol, thyroid and more. Squash offers a healthy workout to the whole body which can effectively slow down these diseases. Thus adding longevity to life.

Impact of Squash on Mental Well-being

· Healthier brain

As the game requires continual understanding, the human brain performs multiple functions simultaneously. It calculates the velocity of the ball, the inclination and instructs the body to move in a particular direction, commands the hand to rise at one particular moment and then make a hit. A complete strategic thinking process.

This though seems minute, gives the brain a perfect workout.

· Practical well being

After an hour of the game, the whole body sweats and is tired. This makes the body crave rest. Indicating the brain to secrete sleep hormone i.e Melatonin and make utmost use of it.

This constantly improves the sleeping pattern keeping the brain, eyes and cell repairing systems healthy. It also removes toxins and mentally prepares for the next day.

· Activates the body for the whole day

A game of squash before starting the routine work for the day activates the whole body. Instead of curbing in with laziness & unproductivity, the mind and body are already working to make the most out of the day.

· Can be played 365 days

This ensures that the body never loses the stamina & endurance to play. Unlike some sports that can be played only during particular seasons, squash is played indoors and is in no way affected by the season.

· Cheap investment

To play squash, there need not be a great expenditure. The right set of footwear, the racquet and a ball and the eyewear are all that will be needed. This means that the mind can play worrying less about EMIs and other cost-cutting measures to make the budget.

The Emotional benefits of playing Squash

· Simple to start. Easy to progress

Playing squash can be easily learnt. If kids are trained at young they can be pros by the time they reach secondary schooling. This means that even an amateur player can easily pick up, enhance concentration levels & enjoy playing it. This also internally boosts self-confidence & builds self-esteem.

· Social sport

Given that this sport needs a minimum of one player, the game makes you social. You can play it would a friend, a family member or just a random player who uses the same court as you. Thus new squash lovers added to your network.

· Stress buster

Squash shots are hit with a lot of strength & stamina. This makes the body exert pressure. Studies have shown that sports that help the human body exert pressure help in relieving stress. This is because of the deviation of energy from negative thoughts to compelling play. So a game of squash is all you need to let go your bad day.

What should you do before playing Squash?

• Get a check-up done to identify any underlying health conditions.
• Maintain a healthy balanced diet & fluids.
• Opt for learning to play Squash before going advanced.
• As a beginner start with basics that suit your fitness levels.
• Invest in quality clothing, footwear & equipment you require to play.
• Have a warm-up session pre-game and a cool-down post-game.
• Get social & have fun.

“Squash is boxing with racquets” -Jonah Barrington