With England’s top players coming to Brum this month, why not try the sport yourself – and enjoy all the health benefits it brings?

Badminton takes centre stage in Birmingham this month as the England Open Championships returns to the Utilita Arena. Some of the best badminton players from around the world will be showcasing the speed and skill required to excel in this incredible sport.

Never played? What are you waiting for? It’s a fabulous alternative to the gym with some incredible health benefits.  Here are just a few:

Total Body Workout

Stretching, lunging and running… it’s all required, meaning your heart will be pumping providing a cracking cardio workout for the whole body, including your core.  

Muscle strength

The continuous movement also helps build up your muscle mass, as well as tone them up, and strengthens calves, quads and hamstrings. 

Heart Health

Badminton decreases the levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol, which can block your blood vessels and improves the levels of good cholesterol – all good news if you want to help avoid heart attacks and strokes. 

Upward mobility

As we age, our mobility gradually begins to become more limited. The active motion of badminton ensures we lubricate our joints, helping to minimise the risk of arthritis and other joint issues. 

Improve reflexes

Being a quick sport, it requires good reflexes, both physically and mentally, which are essential in allowing your body to react in ways that help you to be safe from the dangers of falling over. 

Boost metabolism

Having a good metabolism with a high metabolic rate is vital for a healthy life. Badminton is an active sport which sweats you out from tip to toe. The natural sweating of our body removes toxins inside out and helps fight diabetes. 

Bone strength

The back and forth movements of hands, legs and arms, as well as the impact from jumping around and hitting the shuttlecock, can help improve bone density and strength which helps prevent fractures. It’s also lower impact that squash and tennis which is good news. 

Weight loss

Playing a game of badminton can help you burn around 450 calories an hour which is great for weight loss and keeping trim. 

Increased Life Expectancy

Research suggests that racket-based sports can increase your life expectancy even more than other activities such as cycling and swimming. 

Mental health

Taking part in any form of regular physical activity helps to release those lovely endorphins which helps fight all manner of ills like anxiety, stress and lack of sleep. 

It’s social!

Badminton is a fun, flexible sport that’s not affected by the weather so it’s easier to plan around your busy schedule.  You can either play singles or doubles, so it’s highly social as well as a great work out.