Health and Leisure
Serving Up
a Workout
Racquetball players reap benefits
WRITTEN BY JENNIFER L. NELSON
WHERE TO GO
James J. Braddock North Hudson County Park
Bergenline Ave., North Bergen, (201) 319-3747
Washington Park 2nd St., Union City, (201) 348-5700
OVER THE BRIDGE:
New York Health & Racquet Club 800-HRC-BEST, nyhrc.com
YMCA of Greater New York 212-630-9600, ymcanyc.org
Wilson Lynx
Racquetball Eyewear
Target.com $10
Pro Penn High
Definition
Racquetballs
(pack of three)
Modell’s $5
Head Racquetball
Cover Bag
Modell’s $25
Wilson Splat
Stick
Racquetball
Racquet,
Black
Target.com
$20
28
MARCH 2016 (201) GOLD COAST
Head Renegade
Right-Handed
Racquetball Glove
Modell’s $10
PLAYER: THINKSTOCK; RACQUET AND EYEWEAR: COURTESY OF TARGET; BALLS, GLOVE AND BAG: COURTESY OF MODELL’S
M
any fitness aficionados may not know that
racquetball can offer many social and
health benefits – and deliver an intense
workout.
“Racquetball is an amazing cardio
workout, and probably one of the best
things you can do to get your heart pumping,” says Cory
Azriliant, racquetball pro at New York Health & Racquet Club,
with several locations just minutes from Bergen and Hudson
counties.
Not only can racquetball be played with two (singles) or four
(doubles) friends or fellow competitive players on the court, but
it’s a sport that’s easily modified to accommodate players of all
ages, abilities and fitness levels.
“It doesn’t feel like the kind of mundane workout you get
on a treadmill; your mind and body are active the entire time,”
Azriliant says.
Though often compared to tennis, racquetball is actually
an offshoot of the game of squash. The game can be played
in a variation known as cut-throat, with one player serving
and two players as the opponents.
“You’re typically going to get more rallies in racquetball,”
Aziliant says, “so the game moves at a faster pace, which is
why it makes for such a fun and effective workout.” ◆