by Sasha Reddy
Beyond the pleasure of chasing golf balls and tennis balls across greens and courts, this family of three understands the benefits of physical activity as a shared pursuit. At a young age, Sasha’s mother, Marina, and father, Deryl, introduced her to tennis, a sport they both love and play recreationally. This year, Sasha will play for her high school’s varsity tennis team in addition to continued ballet and golf lessons. Her athletic spirit is reinforced by Marina and Deryl, who have not only encouraged their daughter to try different extra-curriculars but also led by example.
The three don’t always play tennis very well as a family, though. “Sometimes it gets a little frustrating when it’s with your parents,” Sasha smirks.
Marina continues, “We tried to play the three of us, my husband, Sasha, and me. It seems like she and I can play fine, she and her dad can play fine, but when the three of us are trying to play something, every time, we end up mad at each other or frustrated. I don’t know what it is – we’re all very competitive.”
Hitting the court as a family of three can feel like a tug-of-war. Still, Deryl and Sasha love hitting the golf course together, and Marina and Sasha have boosted their tennis game with Pilates Strength and Balance classes at HAC. They’ve attended together most Sundays since the family moved to Hockessin from Louisiana about a year ago.
Join Sasha and Marina for Pilates Strength and Balance with Dace every Sunday morning.
“With dance, [Pilates] definitely helps me stay flexible,” Sasha explains, “Especially over the summer – I only had a couple of summer classes, so doing Pilates really helped me stay in shape for that and not have to worry about not being able to do certain moves. And with tennis it really helps with my overall ankle and wrist strength. It’s really easy to roll your ankle – like, if you step on a ball or just start running the wrong way, or you flick your wrist, it’s a really easy way to get hurt. So, Pilates has definitely helped with that. And then the same thing with golf. Your wrists – they’re so easy to bend the wrong way, but with Pilates, you do a lot of wrist work, so it helps me.”
Marina shares her gratitude for the added chance to bond with her daughter, too. “She’s a teenager – you know how it goes. I was just kind of glad that it’s something that she wants to do with her mom… It’s nice to spend some quality mother-daughter time.”
Though Marina and Sasha have a decent home gym setup, group fitness is a much more motivating way for them to work out. “You’re on the clock,” Marina says, “and you need to do certain reps or a certain weight, or you have 30 seconds more to hold a plank….if I’m by myself, I’m like, ‘No, I’m done. I can’t.’ But if I see other people holding that plank, I’m holding my plank, too.”
Playing youth sports has been linked to countless positive health outcomes later in life, from decreased risk of anxiety and diabetes to increased creativity and life satisfaction. When physical activity is encouraged and exemplified by parents, it reinforces those healthy habits as a shared experience. You can always steer your child towards team sports, but if you’re looking for an activity to do as a family, here are eight ideas:
- Family Walks or Hikes: Explore local parks, nature trails, or hiking paths as a family. This one’s an easy weekly commitment and an excellent way to connect with nature while staying active.
- Biking: Take leisurely rides through your neighborhood or explore bike trails.
- Pass a ball: You don’t have to have a lot of equipment or know-how to put a few sports basics to work. Have a catch, kick a soccer ball, or bump a volleyball back and forth. Head to HAC during free afternoons to shoot some hoops or grab a disc for ultimate Frisbee. There are so many ways to play.
- Skating: Try roller-skating or roller-blading, or head to your local ice rink.
- Swimming: Visit a nearby pool or beach for swimming and water-based activities that are fun and great for fitness.
- Dance Parties: Put on some good music or queue up a video to follow for easy, energetic living room dance parties. You can even find family dance classes to enroll in.
- Yoga or Pilates: Find a practice that improves flexibility and relaxation for the whole family. A good game of Twister may prove a fun way to stretch, too.
- Team Challenges: Organize family challenges like relay races and obstacle courses to encourage friendly competition. Games like these are great for reunions.
