A walk in the park turned into a new activity offering at Tapestry at Victoria Harbour when residents came upon a group of people playing pickleball at nearby Beacon Hill Park.

If you haven’t heard of pickleball yet, you soon will. It’s becoming more and more popular, thanks to the features of the game that make it accessible to people of all ages and abilities.

Pickleball is played on a smaller court than tennis, with lighter paddles and balls, and serves are underhand only. The goal of pickleball is to hit with control, not force, and play tends to happen closer to the net. The sport is appealing to those who previously played tennis, and to those who have not.

Fatima Rabago, a Kinesiologist who is part of the Wellness team at Tapestry, welcomed and supported residents interest in pickleball. “The residents were intrigued since some had played tennis before, though they no longer wanted the intense running tennis requires,” she says. “We decided to try it once a week at the park, printed out the rules, and learned how to play.”

In Victoria, the outdoor season for pickleball runs from May to October, so in the colder months residents practice their pickleball skills in Tapestry’s expansive activity room. To encourage participation, Tapestry purchased paddles and pickleballs and some of the keener participants also bought their own equipment.

Phyl M, who moved into Tapestry less than a year ago, had some exposure to pickleball before joining the community. “I had been a tennis player for decades and several years ago I spent some time in the United States, and that’s when I switched from tennis to pickleball. After I moved into a golf community back in Canada, I packed away my pickleball gear for a while,” she says.

When looking for a retirement living option last year, Phyl was intrigued to see that Tapestry offered pickleball, and she is now one of the most avid players in the group. Phyl joins an enthusiastic group of Tapestry residents at Beacon Hill Park once a week, where they play together as well as with other players from the community.

In the colder weather, she practices her skills indoors at Tapestry, and has also dropped in to play a couple of times a week at the temporary indoor space offered by the City of Victoria at the Crystal Garden venue (conveniently located just around the corner from Tapestry).

One of the things Phyl enjoys the most about pickleball is that anyone can play and have fun. “With pickleball you can be on a court with people of different levels and still enjoy the rallies. When we are finished our session for the day, we are all laughing and enjoying the activity,” she says, adding, “No one gets uptight if you miss a ball. It’s much more forgiving than tennis.”

Phyll K, another Tapestry resident, likes that pickleball can be as slow-paced, relaxed, and lighthearted as the players want it to be. “It’s not competitive. It’s pleasant and we just have a lot of fun,” she says. Phyll says she didn’t have a background in tennis before taking up pickleball but has always been active, having been a swimmer, and she still enjoys riding a bicycle, walking, and hiking – anything outside, she adds. When asked what she personally gets out of playing pickleball, Phyll cites the “whole body” exercise and the social aspect.

Pickleball is particularly suited for seniors, as it is low impact (especially compared to tennis), can help improve balance and coordination, builds strength, is adaptable and inclusive, and has a strong social element.

One study that followed 20 pickleball players for six weeks found there were improvements in their fitness and brain health, and a reduction in self-reported pain. Almost all participants described a better sense of overall well-being including mood, energy levels and self-confidence. Several participants said their enhanced mood was likely due to both the physical and social aspects of the game.

At Tapestry, we offer a multitude of activities every day to help you maintain or improve your fitness level while having fun and meeting new people. If you are considering making a move to retirement living, please contact us for a tour and complimentary lunch and be sure to ask about our enticing move-in incentives.