Tennis is a major sport at the Stanglwirt Bio and Wellness Resort. Under the direction of the “Director of Tennis”, Philippe Azar, the tennis enthusiasts experience a completely new kind of fitness training through Cardio Tennis.
“The heels are actually never on the ground”, explains Philippe Azar, who has been in charge of the tennis department at the Stanglwirt Bio and Wellness Resort for two years, about the latest trend on the red ash. Because not only the conventional training is offered next to a fanatic scenery at the foot of the Wilder Kaiser. The latest craze among tennis enthusiasts is cardio tennis. The modified form of traditional tennis offers the participants a completely new experience on the court.
“You have to imagine it this way: You’re on the move all the time, it runs music and takes you to the limits of your own body. It’s simply fantastic to combine tennis with a hard workout,” added the Lebanese-born Belgian.
But what is “Cardio Tennis” and why is it practiced at the Stanglwirt?
At Stanglwirt, tennis and exclusivity are highly valued. The five-star hotel is considered one of the best tennis hotels in Austria and convinces with comfort and a unique location in the Austrian mountains. To add even more professionalism to the tennis offer, Azar was hired in 2016 and has represented the tennis management company “Peter Burwash International” (PBI) on site ever since. PBI is considered the most renowned and best tennis management company in the world and teaches people of all ages around the globe how to play tennis professionally.
The PBI programme also includes Cardio Tennis, which combines a full-body workout with tennis, “The great thing is that you can have different levels of players on one court. Everyone learns something new and becomes very fit at the same time,” Azar explains.
The basis of the change of the tennis sport is the following: With Cardio Tennis importance is attached to movement. The requirement of every participant must be that their own heart rate is always kept within the aerobic range. Intensive exercise units alternate with short rest periods – without getting completely calm. Sprints, strength training and running exercises are combined with tennis. The tennis of the respective player is continuously improving. Azar promptly provides the reason for this: “During the training so many balls are hit that the tennis level naturally increases” A big and initially curious difference is that children play with soft balls. This also has a deeper meaning, as Azar explains in a sympathetic mix of German, French and English:”There are so many balls flying through the air that it doesn’t hurt so much when a ball lands on your head.
However, this is not the only reason for the unusual ball choice. The soft balls make it possible to mix different levels of players, as they are not too fast and the rallies are therefore longer and more intense. This circumstance is”simply perfect and just right,” Azar continues.
The passion for his work and tennis can be clearly seen in the 45-year-old:”Cardio Tennis has so many advantages. Everyone can dose their own performance level and set their own limit. The training group is not dependent on the overall level”, Azar describes the so far unique programme in Austria. The fitness program is widespread around the globe. Cardio Tennis has been practiced for a long time in the Bahamas, the USA and Asia. In the Red-White-Red Republic only the Stanglwirt Cardio offers tennis. In Germany, the trend is slowly gaining ground:”My colleague in Munich is trying to introduce it and establish it in Germany,” says Azar. The Bavarian Tennis Association has already included cardiovascular training on the tennis court in its programme.
We play and train in groups of up to twelve people. However, Azar reveals that eight participants on the course are the optimum number.
Cardio Tennis offers the enthusiastic tennis player another possibility to increase his own fitness and still hold a racket in his hand. Monotonous training on equipment in the gym is replaced by group dynamics and fun playing. And you get really fit!
You want to try Cardio Tennis together with coach Azar at Stanglwirt? Click here to register