From staying sharp by exercising that competitive streak, to getting active while catching up with friends, playing sport can have a huge impact on your physical and mental health, whatever your ability or skill level.
Offering a wide range of opportunities to play, Cheltenham's East Glos Club is encouraging local people to discover how 海角社区 part in racket sports on a regular basis can not only keep you physically fit, but mentally stimulated, in turn improving your confidence and self-esteem.
Rackets manager at the club, Steve Worsley, said: 'Racket sports are a great way to clear your head 鈥� helping you shake off stress, lift your mood and stay mentally sharp while just having fun.'
According to scientific studies recognised by the UK's governing body for tennis, LTA, sport and exercise boost mood and emotional wellbeing through the release of endorphins, which reduces feelings of stress and anxiety by targeting areas of the brain related to stress response.
It also stimulates the brain's neurotransmitter, dopamine, which gives us feelings of satisfaction, pleasure and drives our motivation to keep exercising. This in turn gives us more self-confidence as we recognise the effort we're putting in.
Additionally, it's been proven to have a big impact on memory and attention by increasing the flow of blood to the brain, impacting the size of certain brain regions linked with memory and improving cognitive function, reducing the risk of developing dementia.
Sport and exercise also contribute to a better night's sleep, which helps the brain repair and aids the production of serotonin, which regulates mood, cognitive skills and concentration.
Away from the courts, England Squash highlights the mental health benefits of racket sports 鈥� from inclusivity, with anyone welcome to play no matter your ability or skill level, to the social side, from the support you get from the community, to building friendships over coffee afterwards.
A fun and sociable club with first-class facilities, East Glos Club now offers six sports 鈥� tennis, squash, racketball, padel, pickleball and table tennis 鈥� alongside its extensive coaching programme for adults and juniors, kids' holiday camps, and community tennis sessions in Montpellier and Pittville parks.
On site there's a bar and cafe, where you can grab a drink or food post-match, there're accessible sessions for those less mobile, such as walking and wheelchair tennis, and it has social members, too, who might be a bit too old for sports 鈥� and prefer to get their mental stimulation playing cards.
To find out more about the opportunities to play and socialise at East Glos Club, visit .
