(201) Gold Coast March 2016 | Page 30

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.” ◆