It's the new fitness craze and doesn't involve a treadmill, a stationary bike or even weights. But it does involve a tennis racket.  Cardio tennis gets your heart rate up.

So you've never played tennis, but know how to jump and move your feet.  We've found your perfect match.

"It's just running on a treadmill, except for you're on a tennis court," instructor Jesse Gladis said.

People all across the nation, and even in England and Ireland, are swinging away. And Gladis, Brandon Valley High School Varsity Girls Tennis Coach, thought eastern South Dakota needed to get involved so he started sessions this summer.

"It's more just drills.  You hit the ball, you run through.  There's not much competition.  We do some cool down drills where we play each other," Gladis said. 

Adults and kids are out on the courts zigzagging around cones, running the ladder and getting short cycles of high intensity workouts and periods of rest similar to interval training.

You'll find it's less about your backhand and more about simply moving.

"It's fun and athletic," tennis player Jami Koens said.

The cardio workout is needed to sustain stamina throughout a tennis match, but also in day-to-day activities.
Gladis hopes one day, these tennis courts in Brandon will be full of people, no matter whether they love tennis.

"I love it. I don't wanna coach it, I wanna play it," Gladis said.

To learn more about cardio tennis and how to get involved, we've set up a link below:

Cardio Tennis