Tennis and keeping fit

Tennis and keeping fit

Listen to Phil talking about how taking up tennis when he retired has improved his health.

Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises.

Preparation

Transcript

Interviewer: Good morning, Phil.

Phil: Morning, Jo.

Interviewer: Erm, what would you like to talk about today?

Phil: Er, I thought I'd just say a little bit about the importance of, erm, trying to keep your body fit when you're getting older. I was, er, I had, my blood pressure was getting higher and the doctor was saying it was getting close to needing medication to improve it. And I said to him, 'I think I'd rather not have the medication but I will try and take more exercise.' So, I had to find some form of exercise which was enjoyable and which would also keep me fitter. So, I chose to take up playing tennis. I, erm, I'm quite good at hitting a ball or catching a ball so that wasn't any problem. And I get very bored if I just go running. But tennis has the advantage that you have a ball to chase around for an hour, you're stopping and starting, and it also has a very good social aspect to it where you join a club and you meet lots of other people who are, a lot of them are the same age as you, and you soon find some friends to play with. And you can go and play a game regularly, and then afterwards have a cup of coffee and a conversation with people. So, it gets you out of the house and meeting other people, and I think it has a whole lot of advantages. And it's certainly worked for me because I started playing regularly about eight or nine years ago and I have never needed to have any medication for my blood pressure. In fact, my blood pressure now is lower and more healthy than it was before I started playing. I really just got rather lazy. I used to take exercise and play, I used to play squash and other games when I was younger but then I got lazy. My knees got a bit creaky and I stopped playing anything until I took up tennis. And I think, really, it's transformed my life. I'm so much fitter than I was eight years ago. I feel healthier for it. I've made a lot of new friends who I have a lot of fun with. And I think it has tremendous benefits.

Interviewer: Great! How old were you, may I ask, when you started playing tennis?

Phil: I think I was in my early sixties. I was between about, I was probably about 63, between 60 and 65. And I'm now 72. And, erm, I have, my tennis in that time has improved a lot. I have a friend who is a retired tennis professional who I play with quite a lot, and he's given me quite a few tips on how to improve my tennis. And now I even occasionally get invited to play by some of the better players in the tennis club, which I think is rather good. It improves my morale as well as my fitness.

Interviewer: Ah, that's great! Thank you very much. 

Phil: You're very welcome.

Discussion

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Submitted by OZLEM on Wed, 01/04/2020 - 22:34

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Oh, dear... I always want to start a new sport but I can not. I used to play volleyball as a professional at high school and the university. Now I like yoga when I started, my daughters want to do with me on my shoulder or somewhere else on my body:) I need to lose ten kilos to keep fit and healthy. I have to start a new sport like yoga as soon as I can. But I do not know when I can start. I hope it happens soon.

Submitted by Stela Stoycheva on Thu, 27/02/2020 - 16:06

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Ooo, I`m like that Phil... I`m 29 years old... I cooking, that is my exercise :D Now it`s not good weather, but when weather is good sunny, I like walking everywhere, even I think I walk too much... This spring I will try cycling often, before I go to kangoo jump- ooo these were perfect exercises for me... I fell really nice after tranning.... I need to start again :)

Submitted by Uche_Blessing on Mon, 24/02/2020 - 19:48

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I have never been the staying-fit type through Exercises or Sports activities. I have always lacked the discipline to continue. I am a generally active person both Physically and Mentally. So, I like to think that my daily routine keeps me fit and healthy.

Submitted by cittàutopica on Fri, 31/01/2020 - 16:06

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When I worked, I didn't take any sport, but I walked strong. When I was retired, I began to join the gym and I'm doing fine nowadays, also because I have closed friendship with a lot of my teamates.