| Many members of our society cringe when they | | | | often result from playing contact sports. |
| hear the word exercise. Visions of laborious | | | | Playing this tabletop game is a great way to |
| repetitions of sit-ups and mindless miles on a | | | | exercise your brain. According to Clinical |
| treadmill are not motivators to get one up and | | | | neuroscientist and psychiatrist, Dr. Daniel Amen, |
| moving. Table tennis is a wonderful alternative to | | | | author of "Making A Good Brain Great: The Amen |
| other tedious exercise options. It can be played | | | | Clinic Program For Achieving And Sustaining |
| any time of the year. Most equipment is | | | | Optimal Mental Performance", table tennis is the |
| inexpensive and does not require a lot of space. | | | | best sport to exercise the brain. Many areas of |
| Foldable tables can be stored when not in use and | | | | the brain are put to use when you play a match. |
| moved indoors or out depending on the weather. | | | | You engage both the upper and lower parts of |
| The tabletop sport is a good aerobic activity. It is, | | | | your body, you utilize hand-eye coordination skills, |
| after all, one of the fastest sports around. | | | | and you perform aerobic activity. Playing this |
| Achieving an effective aerobic workout does not | | | | game engages your brain on many levels. The |
| require one to push him or herself to exertion. | | | | more you engage your brain, the sharper you will |
| Accumulating a couple of hours each week playing | | | | be. |
| this game, at any level, can be beneficial to your | | | | Another benefit of playing is that you constantly |
| cardiovascular health. The sport is unlikely to | | | | develop your hand-eye coordination. Consistently |
| become boring because you will never play the | | | | playing will help you to continue to develop and |
| same game twice. You can exercise with a | | | | maintain this important skill. Hand-eye coordination |
| partner or on your own by utilizing a table tennis | | | | is necessary for everyday agility. Bad hand-eye |
| robot. Regardless of whether your partner is | | | | coordination can result in accidents and injuries. |
| human or robotic, you can determine how | | | | Playing this game will help to keep your hand-eye |
| strenuous to make the workout. | | | | coordination at a high level. This is an added |
| Not only can this sport provide an effective | | | | benefit for seniors who practice the game. It |
| workout, it is a game that can be enjoyed by | | | | helps you to stay alert and able to react. |
| everyone regardless of age, disability, or limitation. | | | | The benefits of this sport are being seen around |
| It is not reserved for one group of people. | | | | the world. Table tennis clubs are being set up in |
| Able-bodied athletes and disabled athletes, young | | | | schools to engage children who are struggling |
| players and senior players, men and women can | | | | academically or socially. Children who take to the |
| all compete against one another on equal terms. | | | | game are demonstrating improved communication |
| Because it is a non-contact sport, players of | | | | skills, better attendance at school, higher levels of |
| different strengths and sizes can compete against | | | | self-esteem, and are more alert and willing to |
| one another without one having the advantage. | | | | participate. This game is a tool that is being used |
| Players are also spared the need to be worried | | | | around the world to help our children to grow into |
| about the bruises and broken bones that can | | | | confident, healthy young men and women. |