The start of the new year means evaluating many things, including how active we might want to be in 2024. The good news, Torreon offers multiple opportunities to commit to regular exercise and have fun while you’re doing it. Residents can choose from golf, swimming, tennis, pickleball, plus a variety of activities at the fitness center during late spring, summer and even into early fall – weather permitting. Which type of sporting activity is the healthiest? There is no simple answer to this question. The most important factor might be doing a sport regularly, one that you consider fun and will want to repeat.
We have put together a list of healthy sports you can enjoy at Torreon or in and around Show Low, Arizona that provide high physical and mental health benefits.
- Golf
Golf can be good for your health and your heart. If you walk 18 holes three to five times a week amidst the unbeatable scenery at Torreon, you’ll get an optimal amount of endurance exercise for your heart. If you pull your clubs or carry them, you’ll burn more calories each round and benefit even more. Playing golf regularly can help you stay fit and improve muscle tone and endurance. Additionally, it will help you lose weight and body fat.
- Swimming
Swimming is a stress-free activity that can be carried out no matter the season. It improves lung capacity, burns calories, and builds up muscles. This exercise keeps your heart rate up but takes some of the impact stress off your body. Swimming provides an all-over body workout, as nearly all of your muscles are used during swimming. This exercise helps you maintain a healthy weight, heart and lungs.
- Tennis
Tennis promotes coordination, channels strength, and tones many muscle groups. You can play with friends and family as a social activity, plus it’s a good way to meet new people. It has been calculated that an hour-long game of singles tennis burns around 600 calories for men and 420 calories for women.
- Pickleball
Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the U.S. It’s a paddle sport that combines elements of badminton, tennis, and ping pong. Suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels, pickleball is particularly popular among middle-aged and older Americans because it is low impact and easy on the joints.
Playing the sport improves your flexibility, lowers your blood pressure, and builds strong muscles. It also improves cardiovascular health and hand-eye coordination. People who played pickleball three times a week for one hour at a time over six weeks showed improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure.
- Walking
Many people enjoy exploring the 200 miles of scenic trails and 40 sparkling lakes around Torreon by walking regularly. The benefits of walking include increased cardiovascular and pulmonary (heart and lung) fitness, reduced risk of heart disease and stroke, plus improved management of conditions such as hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, joint and muscular pain or stiffness, and diabetes. Walking is known as weight-bearing exercise because you carry your own body weight when you walk.
- Volleyball
One of the best benefits of playing volleyball is that it helps to burn off calories, effectively maintaining a positive ratio between muscle and fat. It has been estimated that just a half-hour game of competitive volleyball can burn anywhere from 120 to 178 calories, while a less competitive game may result in 90 to 133 calories burned off. Volleyball helps you maintain a healthy weight, which reduces the risks of heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension.
Volleyball involves working with a team to achieve a common goal, thereby strengthening friendships and creating a sense of group cohesion. Team sports are also a fantastic way to improve your self-confidence and reduce stress.
- Basketball
Basketball is a lot more than just an exciting game to play. The sport offers a lot of physical, mental, and emotional health benefits for anyone who wants to become more active or develop a healthier lifestyle. It’s a great mind and full-body workout. Basketball can help you burn up to 700 calories per hour, which makes it a good option to consider if you’re trying to lose weight. Basketball can also help you "think on your feet," as you often have to make split-second decisions with very little time on hand. Playing the sport regularly can help you transfer these skills to other aspects of your life, like work or family.
- Fitness Center
You’ll find a well-equipped fitness center at Torreon, featuring weights, workout machines like treadmills or stationary bikes, yoga and pilates equipment, plus other specialized machines. The center offers a range of group classes and individual workout programs. Take a tour today.
- Ping Pong, Air Hockey
You can have a lot of fun playing Ping Pong or Air Hockey, but did you know these sports raise the heart rate, help strengthen muscles, mobilize the joints, and, importantly, sharpen reaction times and hugely improve hand-eye coordination? These sports are not only fun, but they can also help to improve one's quality of life.
- Fishing
Fishing is a full-body sport that can help to increase your strength, flexibility, and endurance. It may not seem like it, but if you're constantly casting, reeling in, and maneuvering your line, you're working out many different muscles in your body and improving your cardiovascular health. Believe it or not, active fishing can burn up to 200 calories per hour. Fishing also provides you with the chance to unwind and escape the pressures of daily life. Spending time outdoors promotes relaxation and feelings of calm, which lowers stress and anxiety levels. Additionally, fishing gives you a chance to set and achieve new personal goals, increasing your confidence.
So why wait any longer? Start today by committing to regular exercise and having fun while you’re doing it in Torreon and nearby Show Low.
Located just three hours from Phoenix in Show Low, Ariz., Torreon is a luxury golfing community nestled in the White Mountains. It offers convenience, world-class recreation, and amenities for the entire family. Offering everything from a sprawling outdoor pool, expansive fitness center to award-winning food at Torreon Grille as well as a family and game center, fishing pond and endless trails throughout the community, every member or guest is sure to enjoy time at Torreon. Learn more at https://torreon.com/
Contact Linda Cedarblade, designated broker for Torreon Realty at (928) 532-3030 or lrc@torreon.com for more information on gorgeous, high-country lots or move-in-ready Golf Villas nestled in the White Mountains.