Mackenzie Holmes is a college basketball player. She played for Indiana, and won a NCAA Championship with them. Holmes and her teammate, Sydney Parrish, recently attended a game. Parrish shared a photo of the two of them on Instagram. In it, they wore Indiana clothing. Parrish captioned the post, “We’re IN. Are you?” How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Mackenzie Holmes stays in shape and the photos that prove they work.
By playing basketball, Holmes can improve her hand-eye coordination. FitnessAdvisory.org states, “The objective of a basketball game is to score as many points as you can by getting the ball through the hoop of the opposing team. So far that sounds pretty simple. But along the way you’re burning calories and building skills – hand-eye coordination is just one. Catching rebounding missed shots is another skill that requires a great degree of full-body coordination, since you have to observe the ball and jump to grab it at the right moment. Dribbling, another basic basketball skill, allows you to train your motor skills. Once you’ve mastered hand-eye coordination, you’ll no longer have to look at the ball while dribbling it.”
According to FitnessAdvisory.org, basketball can help you build muscle. “Basketball requires you to jump while playing, as well as running back and forth multiple times. In a basketball game, you rely on your body positioning and the ability to maintain that position when an opponent is pushing against you. This is why playing basketball can strengthen all parts of your body, especially your core muscles, neck, lower back, and arms.”
By playing on a team, Holmes can build her confidence and social skills. FitnessAdvisory.org, “Socializing with other players helps reduce stress and boosts your immune system. Don’t think of basketball as a competitive sport – consider it as an activity that allows you to meet other people who share common interests in creating a healthy lifestyle. What’s more, making good shots and being part of a good team can improve your self-esteem and confidence, which helps you feel more positive about yourself.”
When Holmes is on the court, she has to observe others, and make decisions based on what she sees. FitnessAdvisory.org states, “Basketball is a fast-paced mental game where you must develop the ability to quickly and accurately process what’s happening in the game so as to make the best decisions for your team. During the game, you must observe your teammates as well as opponents and anticipate their next move and respond accordingly. The more you play, the better chance you have of improving your decision making skills in real-life situations.”
Basketball is a great way for Holmes to get more cardio workouts in. The Mayo Clinic states, “Basketball-specific movements cause resting heart rates to rise to levels needed to improve cardiorespiratory fitness; higher values are strongly associated with reduced risk of mortality from cardiometabolic diseases.”