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The Journey to Becoming a Better Padel Player: Eva's Story vs. Faria's Regret
Meet Eva and Faria, two passionate women with one common goal: becoming better at padel. However, their journeys couldn't be more different. As they embarked on their padel adventures, the choices they made about caring for their bodies had a profound impact on their paths, illustrating a valuable lesson about mindfulness, movement, and injury prevention.
Eva’s Mindful Journey: Building Strength and Awareness
Eva, a 35-year-old professional and mother of two, decided to take up padel after being inspired by a group of friends who raved about the sport. But Eva was not new to fitness; she understood the importance of listening to her body and gradually increasing her physical activity. Before diving headfirst into playing, she took the time to prepare her body properly.
“I knew that jumping into a new sport could challenge my body in ways it wasn't used to. I’ve learned that injuries often come when you push yourself too hard, too fast,” Eva explained.
Instead of going straight to the court multiple times a week, she began with Pilates to strengthen her core, improve her mobility, and fine-tune her body’s coordination. She also joined the Padelfit program, which emphasized muscle balance, fascial training, and recovery techniques specifically tailored to padel players. These sessions focused on the myofascial lines, ensuring her movements were functional and fluid, preventing strain in areas prone to injury like her hips, knees, and shoulders.
“I felt my body getting stronger week by week. I could tell that my knee stability improved, and I wasn’t feeling as fatigued after matches. Plus, I loved the breathing techniques we learned—it helped me stay calm during games.”
Eva’s dedication to a gradual, mindful approach allowed her to improve her game without overloading her body. Her focus on strength, flexibility, and recovery gave her the foundation to play consistently and avoid the injuries that many rush into.
Faria’s Story: A Lesson in Hindsight
Faria, on the other hand, was excited about her new padel passion and didn’t want to waste any time. She quickly dove into playing three times a week, eager to improve her skills on the court. However, unlike Eva, Faria didn’t take the time to condition her body for the sport. While she had played tennis in her younger years, Faria assumed her body would adjust naturally to the intensity of padel without much preparation.
“I just wanted to get better, fast,” Faria admits. “I didn’t think about my body’s limits or what it might need to support all the movements.”
As Faria increased her frequency on the court, she started to feel tightness in her knees, but she brushed it off as part of the game. Over time, that tightness turned into chronic pain. One day, after lunging for a tough shot, she felt a sharp pain in her right knee—a tear in her meniscus.
“After the injury, I realised I had been pushing my body without giving it the care it needed. I hadn’t taken the time to build a foundation of strength or work on the mobility of my joints. Now, I’m in rehab, recovering from my first knee surgery, and it’s made me reflect on how I could have prevented this.”
Faria is now undergoing rehabilitation, learning the importance of gradual progression and body awareness, but she wishes she had done things differently from the start. “I wish I had paid more attention to the warning signs and respected my body’s limits. If I could go back, I would have taken my time, like Eva did, and focused on strengthening my body before diving into such an intense sport.”
The Key Takeaway: Mindfulness and Movement Preparation Matter
Eva’s and Faria’s stories serve as powerful reminders that the journey to becoming a better padel player—or excelling in any sport—is about much more than just practicing on the court. It’s about preparing your body, honouring its needs, and moving forward with intention.
For Eva, the decision to incorporate Pilates, mindful movement, and the Padelfit program into her routine allowed her to strengthen the muscles and tissues that are key to performing well in padel. By prioritising core strength, flexibility, and recovery, she avoided overuse injuries and found herself improving her game steadily and safely.
For Faria, the experience of rushing into her padel journey without paying attention to her body’s signals led to a painful injury and the long, slow process of recovery. Her story highlights the risks of neglecting muscle balance, joint mobility, and mindful recovery, especially when taking on a high-intensity sport like padel.
Your Padel Journey: Start with Awareness
As both Eva and Faria have shown, taking the time to prepare your body is key to not only improving your performance but also safeguarding yourself from injuries. The Padelfit program is specifically designed to help padel players like you build a foundation of strength, balance, and mobility, so you can play your best game without compromising your health.
Whether you’re new to padel or an experienced player, make sure to:
Listen to your body and don’t ignore pain or discomfort.
Gradually increase the intensity of your training, giving your tendons, ligaments, and muscles time to adapt.
Incorporate strength and recovery practices, like Pilates, into your routine to ensure your body remains balanced and resilient.
Focus on proper alignment and muscle engagement to protect your joints, especially your knees and shoulders.
By doing so, you’ll not only improve your padel skills but also keep your body strong and injury-free for the long term—just like Eva.
Let Eva’s mindful journey be your inspiration. And let Faria’s story remind you that sometimes, slowing down and listening to your body is the quickest path to success.
Warm regards,
Think Silver Team
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