I was excited for my first visit to Squash on Fire! It has been over 20 years since I’ve played a racquet sport. Back in college, I used to play racquetball a few days a week. It was mostly for fun. I barely knew the rules of the game, but played it primarily for the cardio workout. I loved the jumping, the bouncing and the short sprints back and forth. Squash is a fun, yet intense, full-body workout and I couldn’t wait to get on the courts after a long hiatus.
My kids and I were recently invited to take a private lesson and to play a couple of games at DC’s premiere squash studio. As soon as we walked into the 6 month old venue, we were pumped up to try out this new sport. If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you know that I love trying new workouts–especially in newly built studios. And although I’ve played racquetball and tennis before, playing squash was a first for me and my kids.
I had my first lesson two-time National Champion winner with Karan Malik. He is one of the top ranked Indian national players, and was a former U-17 junior national champion before moving to the United States. He recently graduated from Trinity College, where he was recruited to play for the Trinity Men’s Squash team. He was inspiring, encouraging, high energy and an amazing instructor! His passion for the game is exhilarating. I was nervous at first and Malik made learning about the sport very positive and fun. He was encouraging and supportive. He taught me the game in various steps. The lesson felt authentic, catered to me and fun. The game itself was vigorous, intense and exciting. I was happy to learn that my hand/eye coordination game was still strong, after all these years. One hour later, I was ready to take a quick break and sign up for another game. Squash can definitely become an addiction! It offers a complete mind/body experience and it relieved all the stress I may have been feeling beforehand.
Ella and Logan had their first lesson with Elroy Leong. He is a two time Malaysian National High School Squash Champion and was awarded the Player of the Year in 2008. He is absolutely amazing to work with kids and adults. Ella and Logan enjoyed learning from him very much. He explained the game in a way that they understood. He was patient, fun and positively motivating. The kids had a blast and are looking forward to beginning clinics in 2018.
Squash on Fire, a 19,700-square-foot facility in D.C.’s West End neighborhood, sits above a new West End Fire Station and below 61 affordable apartments at 2233 M St. NW. It is built to attract people of all ages, from all walks of life, and designed to provide an opportunity to learn and play the game that has a limited presence in Washington, D.C.
EastBanc President Anthony Lanier was inspired to create this $20 million facility after his daughter pursued squash and sacrificed a lot of time commuting for it. Lanier wanted to create a space that would proliferate the sport, and make it more convenient and possible for athletes to advance their squash careers.
With eight courts, two of which are glass-enclosed corner courts for showcasing, Squash on Fire offers individual lessons, clinics and free play for as little as $10 per player. Its no-membership model opens the sport to people who might not have otherwise had access, Lanier told The Washington Business Journal. And its tech-based system — run through an app called Advantage Booking — allows players to book a lesson, reserve a court and check in independently. Screens in the courts and live video streams also allow them to record games. Now, how cool is that?
The venue also has a restaurant, named the Upper West Side Café, including a full-service bar and food menu, and a patio overlooking M Street NW. Lanier’s hope is that it won’t just be for the athletes, but will draw patrons for meals, with the added bonus that they’ll be able to watch squash games around them. A kitchen, pro shop and locker rooms also occupy areas of the main floor, which is reached by elevator from the ground entrance or by stairs. There is a plethora of seating, including ottomans that my kids think look like fidget spinners.
The third floor has a mini gym include treadmills and exercise equipment, and overlooks the space below, providing a birds-eye view of the squash courts. Up one more level is a flex space set up for education — so kids can study and meet with tutors. It also opens onto an outdoor patio that will be used for events when it opens this Spring.
Whether you are a beginner, professional, adult or junior, Squash On Fire offers a full range of squash experiences.
What’s more, you can burn up to 1,000 calories an hour! Squash is a high-intensity, fast-paced sport. It gives you an efficient, full-body workout that is also intellectually stimulating. It’s easy to squeeze a game of squash into your busy schedule. It takes less than one hour to get a killer workout and have a great time.
Visit Squash On Fire and get hooked on one of the most exciting, fastest-growing sports in the country!
For more information, visit www.squashonfire.com.
{Thank-you to Squash On Fire for partnering on this post! A special shout out to Laurie, Karan and Elroy for making our first visit a positively amazing one!}
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