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Researchers found that people who played tennis added an average of 9.7 years to their lives, compared to 3.7 for cyclists, 3.2 for joggers, and 1.5 for those who worked out. The Game of Life, an article in the March/April 2019 edition of Tennis Magazine, highlights details about a new study conducted in Denmark. Among 8,600 adults who were followed for a 25-year period, those who played tennis lived significantly longer than those who were sedentary. This is great news for the residents of Sun Lakes! Our community's brand is centered on an active life-style with emphasis on healthy social and physical fitness. While not surprising that those who are socially connected and exercise are prone to increased longevity, it is unexpected that tennis players live longer than other adults who are regularly active. The results of the study in Denmark parallel numbers of a 2017 study of 80,000 British men and women, which found that active adults who played racquet sports lived longer than runners. The British and Danish studies suggest a pattern for those who play tennis, despite it not being as aerobically taxing as some other sports. The authors of the Danish study speculate that the quick-burst, anaerobic workouts involved in tennis may have lasting advantages. Short, repeated intervals of higher intensity appear to be superior to continuous moderate physical activity for improving health outcomes. Tennis also forces its players to exercise a variety of muscles in the upper and lower body, while at the same time taking less of a physical toll than running. Emotionally, tennis has something that no other solo activity can offer — a built-in social component. Belonging to a group that meets regularly promotes a sense of support and trust. For longevity and both mental and physical well-being, our social connections are probably the single most important feature of living a long, healthy, happy life, according to Dr. James O'Keefe, a cardiologist at St. Luke's Mid-America Hospital in St. Louis. Everyone is welcome to join the Tennis Club. Come join the fun at the May 4 Mixer, which features a free 30-minute clinic at 8:30 am. World Cup Tennis (team tennis) begins on May 15, 5pm and a pot luck dinner at 6:30 pm. The Quarterly Meeting is on May 25 at 5 pm at the South Clubhouse, with a pot luck dinner to follow. Let's get out there and play tennis! | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | MAY 2019 | 57 Tennis Table Tennis/ Ping Pong We play Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 4 to 6 pm, and Sat., 10 am to 12 noon in the Main Clubhouse Ballroom (normally). See the Events Board across from the Main Clubhouse Reception Desk for more information. You can also check on-line at www.sunlakescc.com and click on "Recreation" then click on "Classes," and finally click on "Table Tennis Group." Laced tennis shoes required — no exceptions! Info., Bruno, 797-0357.