C’est reparti pour un second blog « Demandez à votre entraineur » ! Cette fois-ci, c’est Charly Vivès qui a l’honneur de répondre à vos questions.

Entraineur personnel depuis maintenant 3 ans au Midtown, Charly est également évaluateur de la condition physique à la M clinique depuis son ouverture en décembre dernier. Bachelier en kinésiologie de l’Université de Montréal, il est présentement étudiant en ostéopathie. Au niveau sportif, Charly est athlète de haut niveau en cyclisme.  Il enseigne d’ailleurs une classe de Spinning à 8 :05 le vendredi matin.

Pourquoi es-tu devenu entraineur personnel ?

Je viens d’une famille ayant à cœur l’activité physique et je suis athlète en cyclisme depuis plusieurs années maintenant. Les études en kinésiologie et l’entraînement personnel représentaient la suite logique des choses à ma sortie du Lycée. J’aime autant m’entrainer qu’entrainer des clients. Étant donné mon bagage en vélo,  je dirais que mon expertise se reflète plutôt dans tout ce qui est entrainement cardiovasculaire et par intervalles. De plus, tout ce qui à trait à la performance me rejoint également étant donné mon profil.

Question du lecteur : Quel serait le meilleur entrainement cardiovasculaire selon toi?

Malheureusement, il n’y pas de routine miracle ! Par contre, pour les gens qui ont moins de temps à consacrer à l’entrainement par semaine, je leur suggère un entrainement par intervalles. La raison est simple ; c’est ce qui aura le plus d’impact à court terme sur leur condition physique. En effectuant l’entrainement spécifique en salle, les gens peuvent donc pratiquer le cardio de base dans leur vie de tous les jours soit en montagne, le weekend etc.  Un exemple d’intervalles connu serait : 3 répétitions de 40 secondes d’effort intense (90 %) suivi de 20 secondes de repos.  Faire 5 à 6 séries avec 3 minutes de repos entre les séries.

Question du lecteur : Si je n’ai pas beaucoup de temps à consacrer à mon entrainement la semaine que me suggères-tu?

En musculation, je conseillerais de travailler les principaux groupes musculaires. Par exemple, pour un trente minutes d’entrainement, faire un exercice de quadriceps, un exercice de pectoraux, d’abdominaux etc. Par contre, bien souvent, les gens ont tendance à oublier la partie postérieure de leur corps parce qu’il ne la voie pas. Je sous entend par ‘’partie postérieure’’ les muscles comme : Ischio Jambiers, Grand dorsal, Deltoides etc. On entraîne ce que l’on voit mais le but est d’être équilibré, en avant et en arrière. En trente minutes, si on est efficace, on peu s’en sortir très bien.  Toutefois, il faut toujours rester vigilant et prudent. C’est d’ailleurs une des erreurs les plus fréquentes que l’on observe en salle de musculation, les gens ne protègent pas assez leur dos et favorisent la nouveauté à la qualité d’un exercice.

Question du lecteur : J’aime beaucoup les cours d’aérobie et de spinning. J’ai le sentiment que ces cours m’apportent  un entrainement complet mais récemment, je manque un peu de motivation. Je m’intéresse à l’entrainement privé mais je me demande s’il s’agit d’une bonne option pour moi ?

Je crois que l’entrainement personnel s’adresse à toute personne voulant pousser son entrainement plus loin. Il faut aussi garder en tête que tout programme X doit éventuellement être changé et modifié. Plus nous sommes en forme, plus il faut changer rapidement ! Généralement, je suggère aux six semaines puisque après cette période le corps n’a plus d’adaptation. Vous venez au club, vous faites le même programme qu’un entraineur vous a remis il y a un an mais réellement il n’y a plus vraiment de gain. Le corps s’habitue, il tombe dans une routine et il ne progresse plus.

Le rôle de l’entraîneur c’est d’ailleurs d’identifier cet effet plateau et s’assurer que le programme est bien maitrisé, puis le changer afin d’éviter la stagnation. Il est vrai que nous avons également un rôle de motivateur. Il ne faut surtout pas hésiter à rencontrer les entraineurs pour discuter si jamais l’entrainement personnel vous intéresse.  Il est important de garder en tête que l’entrainement ne devrait jamais devenir facile. Si c’est le cas, vous être probablement entrain de vous entrainer en dessous de votre zone de confort.

Question du lecteur : J’ai beaucoup de difficulté à bien travailler mes abdominaux, quel exercice me conseille-tu ?

Il faut faire attention pour ne pas confondre fléchisseurs des hanches et les abdominaux. C’est souvent l’erreur que font les gens. De plus, il faut toujours garder en tête la notion de ceinture abdominale et ne pas oublier les obliques et lombaires. De plus, il est important de comprendre que travailler nos abdominaux ne nous fera pas perdre (ou en quantité négligeable) le gras abdominal.

Evidemment,  encore là il n’y a pas de recette miracle et la variété est beaucoup plus bénéfique.

Un énorme merci à Charly d’avoir pris le temps de répondre à nos questions. N’hésitez pas à envoyer vos questions socialmedia@midtown.com

All parents want what’s best for their kids. They want them to be the smartest in the class, or the fastest on the team.  They give them time, money, support, encouragement, and love, all to help them be the best they can be.  For many families, this is especially true when it comes to fitness and sports.

But before plowing into hours of practices and training sessions with spring sports right around the corner, it’s important for parents to ask themselves, “Are my kids working out too much, or not enough?”

According to research done at the University of Michigan, exercise is key to combating the obesity epidemic, especially in a nation where 15% of all children are estimated to be overweight.  However, it’s also possible to push kids so hard in organized activities and athletics that they run the risk of injury and mental/emotional fatigue.

So, how do we determine what’s really best for kids?

Existing research isn’t too much help here.  Many studies have been done on childhood fitness, and many sets of guidelines have been published.  According to Harold Kohl, an epidemiologist from the University of Texas, there are at least 27 sets of official guidelines from various organizations without a lot of data to back them up.

For example, we don’t know why 60 minutes is more sufficient than 30 or 45, how play time or unorganized activity fits into the picture, or how individual differences impact the results.  Fortunately, the experts do agree on a few things:

• Kids who exercise have stronger muscles, greater endurance, and bones that are denser and have greater mineral content.
• When obese children exercise regularly, their body fat, blood lipids, and blood pressure may fall.
• Kids should not exercise as “little adults;” for example, it may not be safe for kids to run on a treadmill for 30 minutes straight.
• Exercise impacts all children differently – some get more benefit than others, and some get none at all.
• Left on their own, most children know best what their bodies need.

So what does this mean for families?  Children spend a lot of time being told what to do by parents, teachers, peers, and the media.  Maybe it’s time to include our children in the decision-making process, and in turn, teach our kids to listen to their own bodies.

Whether they choose to participate in organized athletics or unorganized activity (“just play”), they stand to gain the benefits of building and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, without risking physical or emotional burnout.  Activity can contribute fun, creativity, new skills, teamwork, and personal fulfillment to a child’s life.

And if “the single best activity you do is the one you will do”, let’s allow our kids to choose how to become the best, healthiest, and happiest, they can be.

What sports and activities do your kids enjoy most?

I have never been a proponent of New Year’s Resolutions. They never seem to work, and I always end up feeling guilty when March comes around and I can’t even remember what my resolution was.

So this year I switched it up a little bit. I set a goal for myself, which is small in scope compared to member Keith Clemons’ Marathon-a-Month goal  from last year, but it’s a significant one for me.

I am running my first half-marathon.

Even though I played soccer my whole life, I have never been a distance runner. Actually, up until recently, the thought of running has made me gag. I decided to look up some running apps online, because I heard that they can really help you and motivate you to get going. The three most popular are:

1. Runmeter GPS- Runmeter GPS is said to have the most usable features. Workouts are rated by how well you do in comparison to previous runs (that way you can really keep track of your progress). You can customize voice alerts so you only hear the information you want, and it links with Twitter and Facebook!
2. RunKeeper Pro– This app was for sure the most talked about on the different websites, but it is also the most expensive. The app seems user-friendly and all of your info is available in an easy-to-read form. The app includes several customizable running workouts, and it can also shuffle songs from your iPod playlist (a MUST)!
3. Nike+- This app seems to be very popular since it is so easy and accurate. It includes a calibration option so you can tweak your runs if the GPS signal happens to go out. Nike+ GPS is easy to see during a run and you can control your music from the display, plus it links to Facebook and Twitter.

I settled on the Nike+ iPod Sports Kit. I already love the Nike and Apple brands, so it seemed like the one for me. It consists of a small transmitter device embedded in my shoe, which communicates with my iPod Nano. The computer tells me how far I have gone and how much further I have to run. I love when the voice says, “Congratulations! You have completed your run!” 

So far, so good. I have been training for about 6 weeks and feeling really good about it. I do owe a lot to the Nike+. It keeps me going and I feel more accountable for each of my runs.

I am running the Publix Georgia Half-Marathon on Marc h 18^th.

Are you running it too?

Member Blogger Kathleen Hermann sits down with Certified Running Coach and Cycling Instructor Extraordinaire Missy Witte to talk about her new running program, yoga, and how she stays motivated to set and reach her fitness goals.

Randy Pausch, motivational speaker and author of “The Last Lecture,” once said, “You have to decide if you’re a Tigger or an Eeyore.” 

This quote, a favorite of Midtown Cycling Instructor and Running Coach Missy Witte, an obvious “Tigger,” has served as both her mantra and approach to life. 

If Missy’s energy came in a bottle, everyone would want to drink it. As a role model for a healthy lifestyle for both her clients and her three active, young children, Missy’s genuine desire to help others achieve their fitness goals is obvious by both her work and positive demeanor.

Although perhaps best known for her invigorating cycle interval workouts, cycling is not Missy’s first workout of choice.

“Running is my true love,” she explains. “I have a good base, a good background. I have run eleven marathons to date.  I’m definitely looking for more.” Missy is so passionate about running that she obtained her running coach certification. Her new running program launches this week.

Training New Runners and Seasoned Race Veterans

Missy’s putting her Certified Running Coach credentials to work in getting the club’s running program off the ground.

“There are three ways to work with me. For private or group training, you’ll run with me and/or a group of other Midtown runners of similar ability. You’ll also have one hour per week of endurance and/or strength training with me, in addition to training tips or support.” 

Members who have enrolled in the running program communicate with Missy at least three times a week, and on Sunday, each person receives a personalized training plan for the upcoming week.

There is also coach-only training, with all the benefits of the private or group options, minus the hour-long training sessions.

The program is for runners at all levels, and for those who want to begin running. “Anyone can do this,” Missy explains. “It is a very open, friendly program. Whether you just want to be able to run a mile, or run your first race, or you are a veteran chasing a PR – this program can help you.”

This is Not Your Cookie-Cutter Program

“I’ve had a ton of success with one-on-one tailored programs,” Missy says. “The new running program I’ve created is not a cookie-cutter program you could find on the Internet. Following one of these doesn’t make sense. It’s like ripping a fad diet out of a magazine. It won’t work.”

Pointing out the benefits of training with a coach, she says, “I get feedback from my runners about their bodies and progress and I adapt it to meet their needs. It is very much about what works for you, and not what your friend is doing.”

Best of all? Accountability. “If I’m not hearing from you, you’re hearing from me,” says Missy.

Staying Motivated

Missy has always set goals and worked to achieve them. “I do a ton of visualizing,” she explains. “As I approach 40, I don’t want to give up doing what I love.” To those trying to stick with a fitness commitment, she offers this piece of advice: “The hardest part is making the decision to just go. Then the rest takes care of itself.”

How a Runner Became a Yogi

To help rehab a potentially debilitating muscle tear, Missy turned to yoga. “If you can find time to do one extra thing, make it yoga,” she says.  “Before I started yoga, I thought, ‘Oh, that’s not for me. I need adrenaline. I need to sweat.’  But trust me, you will sweat. What a workout. I haven’t had to go back to the weight room since.” Her orthopedic doctor, also a marathon runner, was blown away by Missy’s increased flexibility and her rehabilitation after she began practicing yoga. She acknowledges, “If I can extend my running into my 70s, this is how I will be able to do it.”

What’s In Missy’s Kitchen?

Missy is quick to share her top foods. “Greek yogurt.  My kids like it too – they say ‘Mom, this tastes like ice cream!’ Also I love Kashi cereal. I mix it in yogurt for texture.”

She also adds that she has a stash of dark chocolate hidden away, and a supply of fresh strawberries and blueberries are always in her fridge. She and her family also eat a lot of chicken for protein.

Some might be surprised to learn that Missy had a lucrative pharmaceutical sales job, which she left after the birth of her first son in order to obtain her certifications and pursue a fitness career. “I moved toward something that I really, really loved.”

And she never looked back.

For more information on Missy’s running program, which can help you start running, train for your first race, or PR your 50th, contact her at melissa.witte@midtown.com or 461-2300, ext. 324. 

Do you experience muscle or joint stiffness, soreness, pain, and/or injury that prevent you from functioning at your best? Have you accepted pain as a “part of life,” and given up hope that it can improve? If you’ve tried Muscle Activation Techniques (MAT), you know that pain doesn’t have to be permanent!

We sat down with Midtown’s Certified MAT Specialist Ron Greenberg to discuss what MAT is and how it can help just about everybody. Here is what we learned:

Question: What is MAT?

Ron: MAT is a systematic approach designed to evaluate and treat muscular imbalances that cause restrictions in motion, joint instability, and muscular tightness and weakness. MAT jumpstarts the muscles to get them working the way they were intended to work.

Question: What led you to become a Certified MAT Specialist?

Ron: I began my career in personal training in 1993 and eventually became a Performance Enhancement Specialist to work with athletes. Over time, I observed my clients enduring more muscle and joint problems as the intensity of their training increased. The regular treatments, such as icing and stretching, weren’t working. It became clear that we were treating the symptoms (pain and muscle tightness) and not the actual problem of muscle inhibition. I decided to become certified in MAT, so that I could treat the underlying problems and get my clients back on track.

Question: Does everyone have muscle imbalances?

Ron: Just about everyone. Imbalances show up in the form of tightness and/or weakness, which are often caused by postural problems (e.g. hunching over a desk all day), or repetitive activities (e.g. running). Tightness is the muscle’s response to protect a positional weakness. In other words, muscles shut down and get tight because they are overworked to a point where they can no longer function properly. MAT restarts those muscles, which not only restores movement, but also addresses the weakness that caused the pain and decreased range of motion in the first place.

Question: Shouldn’t strength training help prevent or correct muscle imbalances?

Ron: Not necessarily. Unless your exercise history is flawless (no injuries, balanced and correct training protocol, etc.), strength training will most likely cause your strong muscles to get stronger and overcompensate, which leads to your weak muscles becoming weaker.

Question: How can someone get started with MAT?

Ron: I am available for appointments on Monday and Wednesday evenings. We would begin by discussing your health history, followed by an initial evaluation and determination of a treatment plan that fits your schedule and budget. Having a MAT evaluation can certainly benefit everyone. Even if you aren’t in pain now, your performance may be suffering in ways that will lead to injury in the future. Too many people spend their lives in and out of pain and physical limitation that can and should be prevented.

Thanks, Ron, for your insight on MAT!

For more information, or to schedule and appointment, contact ron.greenberg@midtown.com or tracey.enos@midtown.com.

February is here and with its arrival comes the opportunity to evaluate the success of health-related resolutions. If you’ve resolved to lose weight in 2012, and find yourself struggling, here are three tips to set you back on track.

Start a Food Diary

One of the tips you hear most often to help you change your nutritional lifestyle is to start a food diary. But what does that mean really? And why is it helpful?  Won’t it be depressing to see everything you’ve eaten? 

Allow me to de-mystify it for you. Here’s why you need to keep one:

1. You become accountable for what you are putting in your mouth. I don’t ask my clients to write a food diary just to yell at them about everything “bad” they ate.  It’s not about “bad” and “good.”  It’s being honest about what you’re eating and seeing where you can make small changes in your everyday nutrition that will add up big at the end of the month and year. 

2. You recognize emotional triggers or habits that you’ve created.  I like to see why my clients are eating what they are eating.  This may sound silly but we don’t always eat for energy.  Maybe we snack in front of the TV at night or always order dessert when we have lunch with our mom.  These are habits and triggers that affect our better judgment when it comes to nutrition.

3. You realize why you are starving  before dinner and snack on chips while you cook.  It’s important to note what time you wake, eat, and go to bed.  How soon you eat breakfast, how often you eat, and when your last meal is before you snooze are important.  If you wait too long to eat your next meal you’ll be starving and end up snacking on an entire meal before you sit down for dinner.  Or you’ll stop at a fast food drive thru. Both habits are not good.

Here’s an example of a thorough food diary:

7:30 a.m. – Woke up

8 a.m. – 1 apple, 2 tbsp. peanut butter, 1 glass water, 1 cup coffee w/1 tbsp. cream (breakfast, hungry)

10 a.m. – 1 Kashi bar and water (140 calories) (a little hungry before workout)

12 p.m. – sandwich w/2 slices of 35 cal bread, low-fat mayo and reduced sodium turkey lunchmeat (3oz.), 1 serving fat-free pretzels and ¼ cup hummus, water (lunch, hungry)

12:30 p.m. – 8 Hershey kisses, water (needed chocolate )

2 p.m. – 1 cup grapes, 2 slices provolone cheese, water (snack, hungry)

3 p.m. – 1 apple, small bottle Coke Zero (hungry)

5 p.m. – spinach salad w/craisins, blue cheese, mushrooms, candied walnuts & balsamic dressing, water (starving, had to go to Whole Foods)

8 p.m. – one glass red wine, one small 96% lean hamburger w/o bun, one handful M&M’s (wanted wine and chocolate, hubby made dinner)

10 p.m. – bed

This was my food diary for a day and I was totally honest!  Times, exactly what I ate, why I ate what I did, and when I went to bed.  So try one for a week, even better two weeks, and see how you do.

Include a Fruit or Vegetable in Every Meal and Snack

These pure and clean foods add more vitamins and minerals with the least amount of calories than any other food. With all of the fiber, water and nutrients that occur naturally in fruits and veggies, you’ll feel fuller longer and will have better health overall.  Pair them with lean protein for a well rounded meal or snack.  Apples and peanut butter, pears and walnuts, broccoli and low-fat cheese, or baked potatoes and salsa all add up to feeling satisfied without a ton of fat and calories.

Pay Attention to the Calories You Drink

The calories in fancy coffees, pop, juice, protein shakes, smoothies, and alcohol are all included in your calorie total at the end of the day.  You can eat great, sticking within your calorie limit, but a Starbucks frappucino and two glasses of wine can add over 350 calories to your total. Over a week’s time, that’s ¾ of a pound.  In a month’s time you have almost three pounds!  Yikes! 

So stick with water, black coffee and tea, and diet drinks, and count those special drinks as a meal to stay on track.

Which of these tips has worked best for you?

I have spent my whole life in Chicago, and as a result, Chicago transplants often say to me, “You’re used to the winters and the cold, aren’t you?” 

The answer is no, I’m not a winter person. I don’t like the short days, the bitter cold, the ice, and the slush. In short, I’m just not a fan. I know I’m not alone, and I’m sure some of you would rather hibernate through the winter too.

However, since we can’t outrun Mother Nature, here are four ways to beat the Winter Blues by coming to the club:

1.  Cannonball! 

I’m the Head Lifeguard so obviously my list is going to start with the pool. Our indoor 4-lane, 20-yard pool is home to a variety aqua exercise classes.  My favorite way to forget about the winter cold is to sit in the hot tub and turn on the waterfall, which makes me believe that summer is right around the corner.

2.  Tennis Fun X 9

We have 9 indoor courts perfect for singles, doubles and Cardio Tennis. Ball machine usage is complimentary. Tennis is the foundation of our history, and our new tennis leadership team is excited to help you enjoy the game.  We also provide a top-notch youth tennis program to introduce your kids to tennis. 

3.  Suzanne McCullough’s Favorite Things

Suzanne McCullough runs the Pro Shop at Midtown.  She loves helping you find the right outfit, racquet, or shoes to help you better enjoy your workout or tennis game.  Stop by the Pro Shop to check out the latest lines of clothing and accessories.  

Suzanne also loves to play paddle. If you’re new to the sport, check out our 4 outdoor paddle tennis courts. We have both men’s and women’s teams.  Stop by the Pro Shop and Suzanne will get you suited up in warm and efficent gear, put a paddle in your hand, and probably give you a few pointers on how to enjoy this cold weather sport. Paddle tennis is great way to stay active during the winter months, and a fun way to shake up your regular exercise routine.

4.  Get Upstairs and Get Fit

Our Fitness department offers a wide variety of classes, including cycling, pilates, and yoga.  Our trainers hold a variety of personal training certifications, including MAT and CrossFit. Whether you enjoy cardio or you want to build or tone your muscles, stop by the Fitness Desk to speak with one of our personal trainers to set up a session. 

How do you stay active during the winter months?

Were you at Midtown’s first Chicago Fitness Party?

On the night of Friday, January 13th, we opened our doors to the creators of WERQ, Julie Steffan and Haley Stone, to host a full-body cardio dance party at the club.

Midtown Group Fitness Instructor Angela Gusman (center) with WERQ creators Julie Steffen & Haley Stone

40+ members attended the Chicago Fitness Party featuring this hot dance fitness workout! 

Julie and Haley took over our new, beautiful 3,200 square foot Group Fitness Studio on a cold, snowy evening, and together with our own master WERQ instructor, Mary Williams, led the 75- minute class. 

Members laughed, smiled, and sweated their way through the class, and the evening ended with post-workout refreshments and fun Midtown giveaways.

WERQ, held Monday nights at 6:10pm and Thursday mornings at 10:10am, has received rave reviews:

“I schedule my entire week around my WERQout.”  Mallory S.
“I bring all my friends to WERQ class!”  Stephanie E.
“When I hear a WERQ song on the radio, I can’t help but do the dance steps from class.” Eddie S.
“WERQ is my weekly escape from cancer.”  Jennie G.

Julie, Haley, and Mary said it was a record-breaking WERQ class for “most male participation.”  The next Chicago Fitness Party will be help on Friday, February 10th, so mark your calendars.

Did you come to the party? What did you think?

Are you ready to work your core like never before? Here is all you need to know about Midtown’s newest class to help you get the “hard core” results you want.

Intro to Group Core – Group Core is 30 minutes of intense core training, athlete -style. The moves are designed to work all of the muscles between your shoulders and hips to help improve performance, prevent back pain, and give you the abs you’ve always wanted. Instructor Vicky gave a strong indication of the effort required when she said (while smiling), “it’s not going to be easy.”

Equipment Used – Participants use their body weight, weight plates, platforms with adjustable risers, and towels to create resistance.

Class Sequence – The class includes the following tracks:

• CorePREP, a dynamic warm-up to prepare your muscles for the workout.
• CoreMAX, a circuit training approach that combines whole-body functional movements to train the maximum number of core muscles. You might experience a heart rate increase too!
• CoreINTEGRATION, a circuit training approach that includes total body exercises with a special emphasis on the back and glutes (this reviewer’s favorite track).
• CoreSTABILITY, trains the muscles that promote spinal stability using hovers (planks), with options available to increase the challenge. Control is the name of the game in this track.
• CoreMOBILITY, brings it home with more traditional abdominal training, including a one-minute “peak” that will “knock your socks off!”, says Vicky.

Keys to Success– Group Core is more than “just abs,” and even participants who exercise regularly have experienced muscles working that they didn’t know were there.  The class requires a bit of an adjustment period to get used to the fast pace and variety of movements, so it’s important to allow yourself time to learn how to effectively move through your space in new ways.

Support muscles, such as the shoulders and hips, may also become fatigued or sore, but this will improve as muscles get stronger over time. Stick with the class one to three times per week, and you will be well on your way to building the core you want.

Instructor/Participant Reviews– The class has received rave reviews, both as a stand-alone core workout, and as a combination workout with Group Power or other cardio classes and programs. Participants say it is challenging, effective, and fun.

As Instructor Frank put it, “You can tell you are making change because you feel it the next day…just take your time learning the moves and enjoy the experience.  You get a bonus abdominal workout if you are willing to laugh!”

Have you tried Group Core yet? What do you think?

Our tennis pros are seen on court so often that you might think that all they do is eat, sleep, and breathe tennis. But, there is much more behind the racquets.

All of our pros are Certified Professionals, but each has a diverse background and has taken a different path to Midtown Tennis. Our new “Courtside” blog series will introduce you to our Pros on a personal level.

First up is Sean Henegan, Weston’s Junior Tennis Development Coordinator. Sean has been coaching tennis for about nine years.

Born and raised in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Sean grew up playing sports. At 16 years old his family relocated to Ohio where he attended high school. He graduated from Wright University with a BS in Psychology. 

After having played tennis in high school and college, the sport evolved into a potential career option as his coaches told him how well he played. Shortly after graduating, he moved to Florida where he now resides with his brother.  A natural born athlete, Sean enjoys playing rugby, cricket, golf, and basketball. Sean is also a big college football fan. 

When he is not at work, he relaxes by playing beach volleyball and body surfing.  Sean enjoys traveling and learning from other cultures, and is a true athlete who maintains a disciplined, regular fitness routine to maintain good health. He thinks it is important to stay active and hopes to encourage our younger population to do the same. 

Sean’s favorite part of his job as a Junior Tennis Development Coordinator is to watch kids not only improve in their tennis but also to watch them mature into young adults.

Carole:  What do you think draws people to the game of tennis?

Sean: There is always something new to learn. It is challenging; it’s always testing your body and your mind, and it’s a great social sport.

Carole: Tennis is a popular sport, but some people are hesitant to give it a try. Why do you think this is? 

Sean:I think the main reason is that it is more challenging than it looks. Perhaps the individual has not been successful in hitting the ball or he/she could have had a bad experience with tennis as a child. More specifically, the coach may not have ben energetic or fun. This is certainly not the case at Midtown!

Carole: What would you say to these people to encourage them to try it (or try it again)?

Sean: It’s a great sport that you can play for your lifetime, and it will keep you physically and mentally healthy. Tennis is great to socialize with friends, significant others, and with your children. Here in Florida, you can play tennis in the fresh air, year round. 

Carole: What are some tips that players can use to improve their tennis game?

Sean: I would suggest the following:

1.) Ensure your feet are in the correct position.

2.) Move your left arm at least parallel to the baseline when hitting the ball to ensure a good shoulder turn.

3.) Keep the ball deep in play. This will push the opponent back, most likely resulting in a weaker return.

Carole: Do you prefer to play singles or doubles?

Sean: As a competitive athlete, I definitely enjoy singles more because if I play badly or lose a match, I can’t blame anyone else but myself. I like the feeling of being independent when I’m on the court as a single player. I enjoy doubles when playing with friends, or if I am playing strictly for the social experience with friends and family.

As the Junior Developmental Coordinator at Midtown, Sean’s focus is on 10 and Under Tennis. He also works with our teen players who want to improve their skills. Have questions for Sean, or want to find out how your kids can get involved with tennis at Midtown? Give Sean a call at 954.384.2582 or leave your questions/comments here.