Today is your day Boomer! There is good news and bad news regarding the popular sport of pickleball. The good: over 1 million Canadians now play the sport; that is over triple the number from 2021. The sport is not just for Boomers and seniors, it is now becoming very popular with the younger generation, especially 18-34 year olds! "I do think it is the fastest growing sport in Canada and probably North America,” says Carla Anderson, the executive director of Pickleball Canada. She says it’s “fascinating to watch” the explosion in play. It also includes three new professional leagues in the US and Canada for the highly-competitive players. Now the bad: simply put, there are not enough courts to meet the increasing demand. People are playing at wierd hours, like early morning, and there are conflicts on court regarding time. There is also conflict with tennis players who don't like pickleball lines on their tennis courts and then there is the noise. Residents living near outdoor pickleball courts say the sport is noisier than tennis and the "whack" of paddle against ball is very bothersome. Victoria, BC has experienced numerous complaints and protests over this problem. On the other hand, Vernon BC has spent huge dollars to build a big, new indoor facility. It's a problem, Boomers. You could say the sport is "in a pickle". Cheers. PS....I like it and play it too!!
Today is your day Boomer! Baby Boomers, another health benefit is back! It is backward walking and the trend-often associated with the 1980s-is making a return as grey-haired wonders, like you and I, look for new-or-newish ideas to help keep us fit! According to cbc.ca, "walking backwards has shown that there's less impact on the joints by using these different muscles — and it can increase flexibility and even help alleviate back pain." One 62-year-old Boomer says "Every time I walk, I just do a little twirl and walk backwards for a bit, and I'll do it just a few times during my walk." It may look a little unusual and may get a few laughs from passersby....by consider the actual benefits. Clinical exercise specialist André Noël Potvin says "When you start to walk backwards, you actually start to rebalance the forces around the ankle, knee, hip and lower back." This really helps Boomers recovering from knee surgery and older Boomers who are havi...

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