Thursday, November 17, 2005
Rich Man Workouts
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With little risk of injury and even less demand on the cardiovascular system, pool sharks may as well let themselves go Minnesota Fats, right? Wrong. "Fitness is key to increasing mental stamina and maintaining endurance through long tournaments," says Jennifer Barretta, a Manhattan gym owner and women's professional pool player who's currently ranked 24th in the world. Constant elongating over the table requires strong hamstrings and a fit lower back, while holding positions to line up shots demands a lot from the shoulders. Barretta, who will show off her playing form in a bikini spread in the May issue of FHM, recommends a raft of exercises, including lying and seated leg curls, lateral dumbbell raises for the deltoids and "Swiss ball" crunches for strong abdominals. Oh, and until pool halls begin serving sushi, avoid the food.
No word on whether playing the piano counts for anything.