Too many recreational players start the tennis season out of shape hoping to get fit by playing tennis.

As this Examiner.com article,Top tip for enjoying the tennis season? Get fit to play and don’t play to get fit!, by CoreFitnessByJana founder explains, players need to get fit for tennis off the court to help prevent injury and get the most out of their tennis season.

Here are some great exercises to improve your tennis fitness, conditioning and agility off the court so that you can perform your best on the court!

CoreFitnessByJana Tennis Conditioning Exercise Videos: click the cover to view each video:

Its pushing 90 degrees and humid today.  Yesterday this was a lush ready to eat crop of arugula, lettuce and cilantro from my terrace garden.  Today its a withered wasteland.

No arugula salad for lunch today

Like with my lettuces, the sun and heat sap moisture and essential minerals from our bodies.

To avoid wilting and potential serious effects of dehydration, be sure to hydrate and replace electrolytes before, during and after physical activity in the summer heat.

Click for more on Hydrating to Beat The Heat

For mental health awareness week I thought I'd share some great information from the Mayo Clinic on how exercise can mitigate the symptoms of depression and anxiety.  In addition to the obvious physical health benefits of exercise, research on anxiety and depression indicates that exercise provides both psychological and physical benefits that can reduce feelings of anxiety and improve mood.

Exercise releases "feel good" brain chemicals like endorphins and reduces certain immune related chemicals that can increase depression symptoms such that it can alleviate depression or anxiety episodes.  Likewise, regular physical activity can help keep depression and anxiety at bay.

Additionally, exercise can instill confidence, self-esteem and feelings of success which counter the negative mindsets of anxiety and depression.

It doesn't require long intense bouts of physical activity to have an impact.  Even  short bouts of exercise, 5 minutes here and 10 minutes there, throughout the day can make you feel better.

Click for more info from The Mayo Clinic on Exercise Impact on Depression & Anxiety