A party is her racquet

By the Numbers (according to cardiotennis.com)

2005 — Year Cardio Tennis was launched in the United States. 

30 — Countries that currently offer Cardio Tennis programs. 

1.7 — People, in millions, who participate in Cardio Tennis programs in the United States. 

80 — Percentage of the 1.7 million Cardio Tennis participants who are tennis players. 

60 — Length in minutes of a single Cardio Tennis class.

Michele Krause has mastered the art of throwing the perfect party, but the University Park resident isn’t your typical party planner. 

Krause’s parties are limited to an hour and designed to bring out the best of everyone in attendance. 

Each gathering begins the same way with six to 10 people listening to music reverberating across the court. Krause then hands everyone a heart rate monitor before grabbing a tennis racket and serving up red, orange and green cardio balls to all her guests. 

The next 60 minutes includes a warmup, a series of drills, several fast-paced games and a cool down that burns between 500 and 600 calories. 

Welcome to the world of Cardio Tennis. 

Cardio Tennis is a fitness regimen designed to provide players with a high intensity workout while allowing them to socialize and enjoy the game of tennis at the same time. 

“It’s a party on the tennis courts,” Krause said. “We also call it tennis on steroids. No other fitness product can compare because you’re not playing games.” 

As the Global Education Director for Cardio Tennis, a position she has held since the fitness program was launched in 2005, Krause is responsible for managing a team of roughly 40 trainers across the world with the goal of growing and expanding the sport.

Cardio Tennis was created by the Tennis Industry Association after industry professionals noticed a steady decline in participation in traditional sports, as people became more involved in fitness activities. 

Looking to bring more attention to tennis, professionals decided to connect the two. Since then, Cardio Tennis has expanded to 30 countries with roughly 1.7 million people participating in Cardio Tennis in the United States alone, according to cardiotennis.com. 

A lifelong tennis player, Krause has been involved with Cardio Tennis from the onset after Hurricane Charley rolled through Punta Gorda in August 2004 and destroyed Krause’s dreams of owning her own tennis club. 

“Life was a little rough for awhile there,” Krause said. “My house was condemned and the club was destroyed.” 

Shortly thereafter, Krause learned about Cardio Tennis and its abundant potential. She knew she needed to get involved. That was 10 years ago. 

“I’m not normal,” Krause said. “You won’t catch me running. The only thing I’ll run to is a tennis ball. 

“Tennis can be the very best fitness activity out there when done correctly,” Krause said. “It’s full body and mind engaging. There’s nothing out there like it.” 

Cardio Tennis is unique in that is uses special cardio balls, which are less compressed than standard yellow tennis balls. The result, the balls move across the court at a slower rate, making them easier to hit and, in turn, allowing them to stay in play longer.  Players are forced to accelerate more through their swing to have the necessary force to send the ball back over the net, resulting in overall improvement. 

“It equalizes the playing field,” Krause said. “It can be intimidating competing against skilled players, so that’s the advantage to using that ball. 

“Cardio Tennis is the perfect introduction for someone who has never picked up a racket,” Krause added. “You don’t need to be a tennis player.” 

Cardio Tennis is designed for players of all ages and skill levels. During a single Cardio Tennis session, players are continually on the move. Through the use of heart rate monitors, players can track their results in real time to make sure they are getting the most out of their workout. 

A former football player and wrestler, Krause's husband, John Krause, remembers how he felt after his first Cardio Tennis lesson. 

"After 45 minutes on the court with Michele, I was completely exhausted," John Krause said. "It was the most challenging overall workout I had experienced in years. Now, I absolutely love Cardio Tennis." 

John Krause, who also plays golf, swims and does weight and resistance training, credits Cardio Tennis with challenging him athletically, helping him improve his tennis skills and enhancing his cardiac capacity while allowing him to have fun at the same time. 

Krause had been playing Cardio Tennis once a week after having a hip replacement, rotator cuff surgery and a procedure to correct nerve damage in his foot in the past year. 

"Cardio Tennis has helped me regain my fitness more quickly than just going to the gym," John Krause said. "Cardio Tennis has contributed greatly to my recovery. No amount of time in the gym can provide the same level of fitness enhancement I derive from Cardio Tennis." 

Every workout offers to same series of components, but with several hundred activities available within each drill or game segment, it’s rare for two workouts to ever be the same. 

"It's just a great workout," The Meadows Country Club resident Laurie Tinnel said. "It keeps your feet moving and you don't have to worry about wins or losses." 

Of the 30 trainers who deliver Cardio Tennis education in the United States, two, including Krause and Esplanade Golf and Country Club director of tennis Jason Golden, live and work in the East County. 

Similar to Krause, Golden has been involved in tennis his whole life and after reading an article about Cardio Tennis a little more than a year ago, Golden approached Krause about getting involved. 

Golden attended the Cardio Tennis Summit at IMG Academy last April and since then, he’s been offering weekly classes at Esplanade with the goal of giving players another avenue to a healthy lifestyle. Classes are held every Wednesday at 6:15 p.m. In addition, Cardio Tennis classes are offered Thursdays from 5:30-6:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 8-9 a.m., at The Meadows. 

“I enjoy seeing each individual get the best out of Cardio Tennis that they can,” Golden said. “Every person is on their own fitness journey, and with Cardio Tennis, using the cardio balls, heart rate monitors, and using music, it’s a great experience to get an amazing workout.”