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Volley away the pounds

34945comox09Tennis
Brenda Dean

 

 

Scott Stanfield

Record Staff

Brenda Dean is helping people volley away the pounds through Cardio Tennis.

In a nutshell, the innovative program is fitness in a fun environment, combining tennis with a high-energy cardiovascular workout that maintains heart rates at aerobic levels.

"Because I'm passionate about tennis and fitness, I decided to start a company called In Your Court Fitness," said Dean, a Tennis Canada-certified instructor who was approached by Tennis BC to build a community-based program in the Comox Valley.

The goal of Cardio Tennis is to attain a person's heart rate in their aerobic training zone — 65 to 85 per cent maximum — for an entire session.

Dean's workouts are conducive to all ages and abilities, incorporating drills with and without racquets during the warm-up, cardio and cool-down phases.

Dean retired last year as office manager at Reliable Auto Body — which means she can devote herself pretty much full-time to her chosen sport, both as an instructor and competitor.

The 50-year-old Courtenay woman maintains her own training schedule to compete at senior tournaments in B.C., as well as provincials and western nationals.

"Time management is going to be interesting," said Dean, who is also a personal fitness trainer.

Hers is in fact the only certified Cardio Tennis site on Vancouver Island. But in order to create a sustainable tennis program in the Valley, she needs corporate sponsorship and community-involvement.

As she says, "it does take a village.

"I'm on a four-year mission with this," Dean said, noting the social aspect of tennis. "We have to get these kids outside and active."

Her sentiments also apply to older populations, especially considering the 'silent killer' otherwise known as diabetes.

"With the aging demographics here in the Comox Valley and as a retirement community we need to get adults and seniors outside and moving," she said.

Dean has set up summer programs at the Lewis Centre and the Comox Recreation Centre, and hopes to do the same at Valley schools by next year. At this point, Vanier Secondary has come on board.

She plans on introducing the sport to elementary and middle school students by using portable nets, racquets, modified balls and other such devices.

"Tennis has changed my life," Dean said.

She hopes others will say the same.

For more information about Cardio Tennis and other programs, call Dean at 334-4014, the Lewis Centre at 338-5371, the Comox Rec Centre at 339-2255 or check www.facebook.com/inyourcourtfitness.

reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com