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36 | OHCC LIVING | JULY 2026 | Table Tennis (aka Ping Pong) is the ultimate brain and body workout. Beneath its casual surface, it is one of the most complete health-boosting sports available today. Often described by medical scientists as "high-speed chess," this dynamic game offers a unique blend of physical conditioning and intense mental gymnastics. Physical and Mental Benets Don't let the small table fool you; a serious game gets your heart rate up and burns serious calories. It delivers an excellent cardiovascular workout without the heavy, jarring impact on your knees and spine, making it a perfect lifelong fitness sport. Because the ball travels at high speeds over a short distance, your neuromuscular system fires rapidly, improving motor skills, agility, and lightning ref lexes. Additionally, the constant crouching, side-to-side shuff ling, and explosive lunges build a strong core and quick feet. Medical experts have called table tennis the ultimate brain sport because it activates multiple areas of the mind simultaneously. Tracking a spinning ball forces your brain to calculate trajectory, speed, and strategy in milliseconds. This sharpens your prefrontal cortex (planning) and hippocampus (memory), while pushing your hand-eye coordination to its absolute limits. By increasing cerebral blood f low, the intense focus required helps maintain vital neural pathways, boosting overall cognitive f lexibility and helping delay the onset of dementia. Emotionally, the fast pace forces you into the present moment, acting as an excellent form of active mindfulness while triggering a natural release of endorphins. Club Schedule and Operations The Table Tennis club at OHCC is open for play almost every day of the week. On weekdays, the default location for play is the Mykonos Room, and for weekends it moves to Abravanel Hall. Tables are typically set up for play on Mondays from 11 am to 2:30 pm, Tuesdays from 6:30 am to 8:30 am, and all other days from 1 to 8 pm. Members should check the updated weekly time schedules emailed monthly, posted on the bulletin board in Mykonos, or displayed on the Clubhouse activities marquee screen, as schedule changes occasionally occur based on room availability. Lessons, Training, and Social Events The club offers members professional lessons to learn proper form and positioning to reduce the chances of falling or injury while improving overall playing ability. A buddy system allows players to book times to practice with more experienced players. Paid individual and group lessons with professional coaches can be booked in 30-minute slots from 3:30 to 5:30 pm on most Sundays. Sign-up sheets for both practice buddies and pro coaches are located on the bulletin board in the Mykonos Room. Finally, two major social parties are planned every year, both held in Abravanel Hall with tables set up for play, music, food, and drink. The first event this year was a Taco Party in April, and the second is the annual general meeting and party set for Sun., Oct. 18. Written by Babu Patrose with AI help Table Tennis