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Ellie Schulson & Finding the Positives in Sport · Yips and Giggles

• speaker-0: What's up guys? Welcome to our podcast. speaker-1: She finally realized that it was all mental. speaker-2: Mm-hmm. speaker-1: Hey y'all, welcome back to Yips and Giggles. Today's guest is Ellie Schulson, a former Division I tennis player at Furman University who reached a doubles career high ranking of number 34 in the nation. One of the great parts about chatting with Ellie is that we get not only a player perspective, but also a coaching perspective from her, as she is a volunteer assistant for Furman. So for anyone who is interested in going into coaching after playing, this is a great episode for that. We also talk about her time with intense tennis this summer, where she played for Team Freeze and actually ended up winning the whole league. Ellie gives a very refreshing perspective on tennis and we really enjoyed having a conversation about her identity as a player and coach and how to keep a realistic perspective in sport. So enjoy y'all. Hey Ellie. speaker-0: Okay. speaker-2: How are you guys? Good, how are you? speaker-1: Yeah. speaker-2: I'm good. Thanks for having me. speaker-1: Yeah, of course. But yeah, no, we saw that you played in the whole intense league. honestly it looked so cool. So we want to get into that a little bit later. But speaker-2: Yeah, for sure. speaker-1: Yeah, but since it ended, what have you kind of been up to since then? speaker-2: so I definitely took a little bit of time off, obviously. It's so funny. I'm only twenty three, but I'm like, I feel so old. Like I feel so old and old. No, literally. And I'm like, this is so embarrassing. I played what, like two and a half months of tennis and I'm like dead. No, yeah. speaker-1: Yeah. speaker-2: yeah, no, it was crazy. So I took a little time off, but I have a younger sister that plays called Chenis too. Yeah. And we were going, I'm from Massachusetts, so we were going back up there. For like two weeks or so before she had to head back. And she was like, I need to train. Like, help me. So I got sucked back into it. So I was helping her train after intense. and then right now I am, you know, working my corporate job, but I help out with this high level girls' academy. So it's really, really fun. It's all like, they're all in high school and they're all gonna go D1. and so basically I just hit in with them like once or twice a week. And It's super cute because they're all very curious and they always ask me questions. And you know, I'm like ki I'm like not their coach, but I'm also like not just a player. So that's been really fun to just kind of stay involved as well. speaker-1: That's like my dream. It's like still not have to coach. speaker-2: So fun. But then like so fun. No, literally. And they yeah, it's great. It's like an hour and a half on Mondays and Wednesdays. It's awesome. It's like right after I get out of work too. So it's perfect. They're probably so. Yeah, they're so and it I feel like it's so important too. Like I was really fortunate growing up to have like a female coach. Right. And, you know, even for s like three years of college, my coach was a female and I just think it's really important to have that. Because I feel like you don't see a lot of coaches speaker-1: It's speaker-2: that are girls. Like it's it's crazy. It's it's a problem. speaker-1: Problem. We have a pandemic of it. speaker-2: It's literally, literally a pandemic, yes. speaker-1: Yeah. You can just like relate more as well, honestly. Like on a speaker-2: Totally, totally. And like they can ask me questions that I just feel like I would have a better response to than like you know, a fifty year old man. Yeah. speaker-0: And like if you're ever going through it, like they can kind of understand a little bit better. She's a little speaker-2: Yeah, totally. Yeah. speaker-0: snappy today, but like maybe there's something else going on. speaker-2: No, right. Right. No, absolutely. speaker-0: Well, speaking of are you still a volunteer assistant at Furman? I noticed that you speaker-2: I am. I honestly don't even know what my life is at sometimes, but far. speaker-0: Well so what's a Yeah, what's a typical week look like for you? speaker-2: So I'll pretty much go into the office like Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. And then after the office I'll either teach or actually I train, like I'll work out before I go in or hit. And then after I'm done with work, I'll either like help out with the clinic or hit myself or teach a lesson or something. and then in the spring I'll try and go up to Furman for a couple of matches and just help out. 'cause it's so fun. Like home service is so fun. And you guys can all relate too. Like there's just nothing like it. And it's so I mean, I'm only a year out of it, but it's so you feel so isolated when you're just on the court now by yourself and you're like, This sucks. This actually sucks. And that's why intense was so fun because it's like I have no desire to go play three sets by myself. I just have no desire to do that. But I do have a desire to like go out there and hang out with a bunch of really cool people and play some tennis. Like that's super fun. speaker-1: Is yeah, is your head coach the same coach you had or is it different now? speaker-2: Yeah, she is. So we have we have a really s like cool relationship. Something clicked and we just have a really special bond and she asked me last January, she's like, I would love I know you're far, but I would love for you to come help out whenever you can and obviously I'm gonna say yes, like that's my coach. Yeah. So it's been fun to stay involved and I know a lot of the girls, and only one of my former teammates is still a player. So it's nice 'cause it's not like awkward. Yeah. You know what I mean? Ask that like speaker-1: We were gonna what is that like? Like to have speaker-2: it's so funny. Well, I graduated with six girls. So like basically our entire team graduated in twenty twenty five. Massive, speaker-0: Cla was that one class or speaker-2: massive one class and obviously it was like the entire lineup. So good luck. but yeah, it's been really fun because again, a lot of the girls most of the girls aren't my teammates and so I'm kind of like a mentor like coach type thing and it's not like I have to get on them or anything. and then with my former teammate, she was always like my little sister anyways. And so she sh I felt like she listened to me even when I was there. So it's great. speaker-1: You're the good cop. You don't have to play bad cop ever. speaker-2: No, I actually am mean though. Like I'm so like you can ask like my teammates, you can ask my coach, you can ask I feel like I'm more intense than my coach, honestly. And it's hilarious. Like I get so into it. It's like what are you doing? No, she's I'm literally like, we're going to the track and everyone's like So I'm actually bad cop. I'm actually very bad. speaker-1: That's funny. You know, you talked about how you had Adam and then the head coach now. You talked about how they were very different. Explain that a little bit. Cause you know, there's a lot of different head coaches out there. There's a lot of different coaching styles. Like how were they different? speaker-2: I would say with and like don't get me wrong, both phenomenal coaches. Like very successful careers. They've had very successful programs. Yep. So this is not to say that one is better than the other. I would say when I was playing for Adam, it was a little bit more like I'm in your face about you doing X, Y, and Z, like you hit a wrong shot, guess what? Like you and everybody else is gonna know. I was a little bit more scared, like there was kind of more punishments involved. but we I mean we were super disciplined. Like we were like, who has the balls? Like, were the balls? Like, did everyone do X, Y, and Z? So a little bit more like fear-led, if that makes sense, but still a phenomenal guy off court. and then I would say with Coach Dasso, she's a little bit more gentle and a little bit more passive aggressive. So it's like you still don't want to piss her off. Like you still like need to listen to the directions, right? Right. But she's gonna be a little bit more. like snarky about her comments and not get in your face. And even her coaching style too. It's more like she's gentle, but she's stern. And so I think that was the biggest difference, realizing like, hey, someone doesn't have to curse me out and yell at me for me to like care and get better. And so I think just learn and you know that was a very similar coaching style to what I had growing up. So it was just a dramatic change from from year to year. Like, wow, I've never had someone who like isn't screaming at me. So which is off and again, like I need to preface that both phenomenal coaches, like very successful. You no no. But just different, just very different. speaker-1: No, yes. speaker-0: So it's so funny when it's like I feel like that kind of just highlights the difference between like the male and female co again, it's it's a generalization, right? 'Cause there's like yeah lots of different male coaches, lots of different female coaches, but it's just kind of funny, like the stereotypes of like in your face versus like kind of more of a passive aggressive speaker-2: Right. Right. And honestly, the passive aggressive is kind of scarier because you don't know. Like we never knew if she was mad or super happy or we were gonna be in trouble. Like we just never knew. So honestly, I felt like that kept us more on our toes. Yeah. which is not really what you'd think. No. speaker-1: Just be straight with me, please. speaker-2: Literally, I'm just like, just tell me what I did wrong. speaker-0: Well, and so you you grew up in New England, right? Like Massachusetts area, which is speaker-2: Yeah. speaker-0: lots of indoor tennis, and then you went to obviously South Carolina to Ferman for college, which is lots of outdoor tennis. Was that like a big transition for you? And what was that adjustment? speaker-2: Honestly, I knew like I absolutely hate the Northeast. I hate being cold. That's literally why I'm outside, like in the sun. speaker-1: Anya's like, get me back to New Jersey. speaker-0: I would move back there in a heartbeat. I would move back. Are you serious? Yeah. Sorry. I don't like the heat. Like I don't do well with the heat. speaker-2: We're exactly opposite. I would rather be like in the Sahara Desert just baking. Yeah. Like seriously. No, but I love playing outdoor tennis and I knew during the recruiting process that I wanted to go somewhere where that was gonna be the norm. I feel like, especially with my game style, I'm a pretty physical player. I'm kind of like a counter puncher, and so playing indoors, especially when someone's like hitting a big ball or slapping, is just It's just not good for my game. Right. And it's depressing. It's depressing. I don't wanna be like against like the tarp and the lights. Like I just don't want that. So yeah. I love I actually think playing outdoor tennis in college was better. just a better adjustment. speaker-1: Yeah, Anya, because you always played in the bubbles and everything. Yeah. Was that tough coming to Wake? We tried also at Wake, we tried to play indoor every single match that we could because our courts were like so fast. speaker-2: I know. We're the wind tunnel. No, we have I have got to tell you guys the story. So we were at Wake, my this would have been in 2023. Okay. And we were, I remember vividly, you guys had already won, but I was playing Brooke Killingsworth, and it was like this crazy, like third set match. Like, and Jeff comes over and it's like whipping wind. It's like 20 to 30 mile gusts. And it's like we're in the third set and everyone's done and nobody gives a f and he's like it's like they flipped the switch or something with the wind and we're like, Jeff, it's been gusting for the past three hours. What are you talking about? This sucks. Yeah. speaker-1: No, it honestly was so tough some days. 'Cause like speaker-2: It's a wind tunnel. We called it a wind tunnel too. Yeah. speaker-1: I don't know who and Know who engineered that, but they messed up. They did something speaker-0: The cour the I really nice. speaker-1: like they're nice, but like other than the speaker-2: So there's so much space. You guys have those stadiums like they're great for watching. But they're so windy. There's so windy. speaker-1: Yeah. Yeah, that was definitely a brutal a skill that we had to learn and deal with that the entire speaker-2: It's like brutal coming in. Yeah. Like if you're, you know, you're an away team. Like we're all in like leggings and and long sleeves and like visors are going everywhere. And it's like definitely an advantage for sure. Like if you can play in that. That was the same thing at Furman. We didn't have heat on our indoors. Yeah. And so my last my last year we played Bama. And at the time, this was the beginning of the season, they were ranked like top twenty. And you know, we had it like a pretty bad year prior. And so it we were expected to just get blown out of the water. And I'm telling you, it was probably thirty degrees in the indoors. And those four Bama girls didn't know, like we didn't disclose that we didn't have heat. Right. We speaker-1: They're like, What? speaker-2: like wiped them. Like it was hilarious. Like I have videos of like all of us in like puffer jackets, like storming to court after we clinched. It was so funny. And all speaker-0: Also it was is there still only four indoor courts? speaker-2: Yeah, it's brutal. It's actually brutal. Yeah. speaker-1: That's rough. Yeah. That's rough. speaker-2: We called that the meat locker because it was into the meatlocker. That is actually no, and like we all got hurt like sometime between January and February because it was so cold. Like you can't play tennis when it's that cold. Yeah. Like your wrist, are you kidding me? speaker-1: Yeah, you shank a ball, your whole hand just like speaker-2: Literally, literally. I mean like shot living. Yeah. it's awful. So awful. speaker-1: also talking about the whole five for five thing, coming from kind of a coaching perspective, obviously you aren't involved in the day to day and all of that, but have you seen any changes since all of this has dropped with five for five or NIL or anything? speaker-2: It's funny. I actually have because I help out with that clinic. it's funny because I almost get like the recruiting perspective with all these girls. Cause you know, they're about sophomores, juniors, seniors, and I just think there's a lot of buzz and chatter about like how hard it really is gonna be to get recruited. I mean, obviously we've seen and I think it definitely makes the sport better, but there's there's for sure an increase in international presence in college tennis. and now with with fifth years, there's just gonna be a lot of movement, I think, internally. I think it might put a little bit of strain on, you know, these younger juniors that are trying to get recruited for the first time and don't have any collegiate experience. And so that's kind of the perspective that I've heard. speaker-0: Speaking of intents, like how did you even get involved in it? Like what what drew you to it? How speaker-2: The most randomest story ever. So I I knew, you know, I love tennis, but I'm not delusional. Like you know, I like that sounds awful. Like I'm not speaker-1: No, you're you're a hundred percent right. speaker-2: I'm never gonna make it as a pro. I'm just never gonna make it. And I'm a great tennis player and I love the sport and I've had a great career, you know, this that and the third. And so I was never like I was not doing the whole gonna travel thing. No. and same. shout out to anyone that does that. Yeah. Like I love that you're believing in yourself. That's great. But I Yeah, speaker-1: I'm going broke. speaker-2: yeah. And like I hope your parents have a lot of money or something. But anyways, so I was, you know, doing the whole corporate thing. I had just graduated. I started my job in July and so I was kinda locked in on that. But you know, I'm in Atlanta. This is like the tennis city of or the tennis capital of the country. Like there's so many I have so many friends down here from juniors and college and whatever. And so I was still hitting. And I happened to get in touch with the head medical doctor who specializes in like tennis surgery and tennis recovery and tennis performance. And he's very renowned. and I became pretty good friends with him. It's so funny. He's he's a good player himself, probably like forty or so. And he'd literally be Hey, like, you wanna come hit with me at my really, really nice country club? Like, yes. Yeah, of course. I'll be there. Of course, when? and so he was like, I'm I'm gonna be on the medical staff of of Intense. Like, I really think just for like throw your name in. Like, who cares? Like, yeah, you know, I know that you haven't played since you've graduated, but I feel like you you're kind of what they're looking for and you have good enough results, like just throw your name in. So it's like, okay. So that night I go in and whatever I I throw my name in. And I heard back, because they were like, We're we're gonna do like a showcase event in December. We'd love to have you come play down in Florida. Like we don't know how you play. We just want to see you play. So I'm like, sure. So I went to go do that. Obviously they paid for everything. It was great. Free vacation. Saw my best friend down there. And then they were like, okay, like you should submit your name for the draft. And so I was like, all right, like, you know, did the whole thing filled out. We had to like make a Like recru I literally felt like I was making a recruiting video. It was so funny. Like we had to like answer like interview questions. I'm like yelling at my sister because I'm like, this is an awful angle on the court. Like it's just really funny. and so I submitted all that. And it I did that probably in like January or so. Okay. And I didn't hear anything until I think like right before like, I don't know, maybe end of February, beginning of March. And my friend Tanya. Who I also played in Tense. she played for Team Sting. She was there one great player. One of my really good friends had texted me and she was like, like, did you hear? Like, did you get drafted? Because we all got an email. Yeah. And I checked my inbox. I'm like, man, like, no, I didn't get drafted. This is really awkward. Like, good luck though. I'm really excited to watch you play. Like, I'm so excited. Meanwhile, I'm like cry not crying, but speaker-1: Okay. speaker-2: then like I no, I I'm like, I'm sucky, Tadis. Like, this is awful. And then And then I look back like the next day because I'm just an idiot and it was in my trash or my junk folder. And so that that long story short, that's yeah, yeah, no, right. So that was that's how it all came to be. So it wasn't honestly like I was looking to get back into it or even play or whatever. It just happened to know the right person and just happened to just take a chance and throw my name in, and I guess it all worked out. Yeah. and it was great. I felt like I honestly And I wish I could have figured some things out in cotlets when it actually mattered. But like I was like for sure playing my best tennis in my career. Like, of course, when I it speaker-1: Wow, of course. speaker-2: doesn't count or matter at all. Yeah. I'm like, wow, like I can actually hit a really good forehand. This is crazy. I never was able to do this. Who speaker-1: Who would have thought? speaker-2: would have thought? I know. So, but yeah, it was amazing, amazing experience. I really hope I'm I can do it again next year. There's been a little bit of chatter on You know, the format changing, whether that's like traveling, which obviously I I wouldn't be able to do, or I I don't know how they're gonna do the draft, because I don't think they like the draft and they're trying to build like team loyalty. So they don't want all the the players moving around and stuff. So we really haven't heard anything in terms of next steps, but I mean, I think just the overall concept of, you know, as tennis players, you get to stay in one spot, you know you're gonna make this much, do it. I think it's just phenomenal. And, you know, they they recognized a gap in the sport and I hope that whether it's this or something else, like it just we're able to fill that need because you guys are well aware of it too. It's incredibly difficult to actually make it on tour. and we see, you know, these top girls from college graduating and kicking everyone's butt in the NCAA and then they go on tour and it's like they're what, floating at five hundred? Yeah. Like that's brutal. So I do hope that there is some way that makes it a little bit more accessible and viable for really good players to have a chance. speaker-1: Right. speaker-2: Not myself. I'm not pitching myself, but I'm just saying like in general, you know what I mean? speaker-1: No, it it is a complete contrast to trying to go and play on tour, even on, you know, the ITF UTR tours where you're making absolutely nothing. And I so I think I think it does hit a new market and I think it's gonna just grow because so many people are hearing about it. And I mean, this was the second season. You you actually your team won, team freeze. speaker-2: Team freeze one. And it was so funny because exactly like college tennis, like we kind of all found our own roles. And I think that's what made us really good, aside from the tennis, like figuring out, hey, like for someone like myself, I'm not the star player and I know that, but guess what? Like, I'm gonna be pushing you as hard as I possibly can on the practice court, and I'm gonna be ready to come in when our two or one and two need a break and I just think finding your role and that's what everyone on our team did really, really well. And I think just that chemistry that we built almost off court is what helped us build that result on court, which was really cool. And I think it's hard to do that when, you know, you've had two months with people you don't even know. And they're strangers and they speak different languages and everyone's from around the world. Like that's really hard to do. Very but we, you know, Simon, our coach, was phenomenal at just making it fun. Like everyone plays their best when it's fun. And we're as tennis players, we're so used to that pressure. And, you know, we know we're all twenty-three plus. Like we know how to play tennis. You're not gonna coach me, you know, how to do X, Y, and Z. But like for you to just create an environment where I'm like confident, I think that's the best thing that our coach did. which was really cool to see across the board. Like even for someone like me that, you know, wasn't wasn't the star player. Like I even felt like I got better, like I told you guys. speaker-0: That's great to hear. Cause honestly, like like you said, I feel like tennis players are just so stressed and wound up all the time. Which like makes sense. I mean, you're kinda like out there alone on the court and even like college tennis is different 'cause you have a team around you, but you're still out there on the court. But I feel like intense is like different 'cause you can get like swapped out in and out. It's like it's even more so of a team environment maybe than speaker-2: Totally. Because it's like spy right, like on a point basis, it matters. Like sometimes in college tennis, it's easy to feel like the set or the game or even your match doesn't matter, but in an intense, every single point matters. And it's cool that everyone has the opportunity to contribute to that, which makes it really special. speaker-1: Right. And when you talk about your coach giving you confidence and developing that team culture within such a short amount of time, are you taking anything that you've learned from that into your own kind of coaching and mentoring and all of that that you're doing right now with the academy and even with the volunteer assistant coaching? speaker-2: Yeah, I just think like honestly, the importance of energy is really underestimated. And like I said, when you get to a high enough level, whether that's, you know, your top juniors or really high level college tennis, like there's only so much you're gonna change about someone's game. And I think just being able to show up and be like just like a positive energy ball is the best thing that you can do as a coach who's like kind of on the sidelines. Cause again, I'm I'm not the one running it. Right. So I feel like his You know, his constant energy and just constantly showing up for everyone has kind of helped me, especially with with the clinic girls. I just think it's it it you wanna make it fun. Like I said, like tennis is supposed to be fun. And unfortunately I think a lot of times in junior tennis and even collegiate tennis, there's just like kind of like a big gloomy ball if you're not playing well. Like it's like this sucks. And you see it. Like even I remember playing college tennis and looking over sometimes and looking at the scoreboard and like, wait. My team's losing, but like why do you look like you're about to off yourself? Like that is crazy. Like, you know what I mean? Like why we're all so lucky to be able to compete at such a high level. And I just think finding that joy and gratitude is is the best thing that I can bring. I'm you know, I'm not more knowledgeable than anyone else, but I think I can bring that energy. speaker-0: Yeah. Such a like refreshing perspective on like tennis. speaker-2: Thank you. It's taken a long time. And I honestly think like being a little bit removed from it, and I'm sure like y'all too, like I think it is so cool that you guys are doing this and reaching out to different female athletes and you know, college tennis players, like it's so important. And I, you know, you guys have a pretty cool perspective on tennis too. Like it's it's amazing. And I feel like a lot of people just take it for granted. and it's so much more than that. Like you guys have I mean, I'm sure you can relate. I've met my best friends from playing tennis. I've yeah. become closer with my sibling, my parents, like my coaches. Like I've gotten probably my job that I work right now because I was a a tennis player. Right. Yeah. And so I just feel like you have to give back to the sport. And, you know, I'm doing that with my clinics and you guys are doing that with the podcast. And I think that's just amazing. No. speaker-1: 100%. It's it's huge. And I feel like I just want to get across to people, especially for juniors and college players, even professional players right now, like just to enjoy the moment and enjoy the present that you have right now because it is gonna end eventually. And I feel like when we stop playing, that's when it really hit us of like, I didn't need to be freaking out every point. Like why did I Enjoy it and you know, work through it and just learn and develop as a person and a player while we were doing it. So then we didn't, you know, regret just having so many emotions and so many breakdowns. It was like, let's just let's enjoy it. And I want people to know that now. So that's just what we're trying to get across to everyone. speaker-2: And I love it. I absolutely love it. And you're doing it in such a fun way too. Like all the clips and interviews and reels that I watch from y'all, like they're all super positive. Like great. Like let's make this fun. Like let's make this something that people are excited about. Not something that, you know, it it always really bothered me as a junior when I'd fli go to these tournaments and girls would be like, God. speaker-1: Yeah, I know. Like I'm like Yeah. speaker-2: Then why are you here? Like it's really that simple. If you don't like it, then don't do it. But I'm having a fun time here. Exactly. speaker-1: But I think that's almost like the culture around junior tennis as well. It speaker-2: Completely. speaker-1: breeds that. For some reason, it's just whether it's negativity from a coach, negativity from a parent, or just at yourself, that is such a culture that I think really needs to somehow change. speaker-0: I do think it's tough. I do think it's tough with tennis because it is such a like individual sport for most of your life. And like you do need to be, I guess, like pretty selfish at certain points and be all about me, me, me to I don't know, get better. And I think part of that mindset like starts like I don't know, almost like corrupting people sometimes of like if it's not going well, like you start tying results to like your self-worth or your self-identity, and then you hear again like all these negative other things from like. co like you said, coaches, parents, even yourself. and I just feel like almost I you need to take it seriously, obviously, if you want to get to certain level, but maybe some people need to stop taking it so seriously all the time. speaker-1: Yeah. speaker-2: Right. And that's why I always tell my juniors too, and I know maybe it's not feasible for everyone, but it's so much it's so important to be more than just a tennis player. Like and I felt like that was something that my parents did a phenomenal job of. Both me and my sister. Like I I ran track and cross country in high school just for fun. I, you know, I was in public school. I we surfed, we skied, I had plenty of friends. I was, you know, my I was a good student. Like, and I think it's really important that that's just preached to these these younger girls because it's easy to feel like it's all consuming when that's what you do for most of your day. But I think just finding ways to be like, Hey, like maybe I didn't play well this match or have a good practice, but guess what? I got a really good grade on this test, or I'm really excited to go do this. And I think that perspective really has helped me now and has helped me a lot in college too. Like I don't feel like just because I didn't make it as a professional tennis player that I'm a failure. Right. Like I'm so much more than that. So exactly I just hope that that's something that, you know, is a little bit more talked about with with these girls. speaker-1: hundred percent. And it is so rare for people to completely close their identity off to other identities and still succeed in sport to the highest level. Like I feel like there's just so much more burnout than there is success when people do that. So I do agree that finding multiple identities right from the get-go in juniors is gonna help as you progress from college to pro whatever, however far you get. Cause at the end of the day, like It is a sport, gu it's just a sport. Like it's speaker-2: And guess what? You're not gonna be a professional tennis player when you're fifty. Exactly. speaker-1: Yeah. How have you found like working out after after finishing like competitive sport? Do you find it difficult? Do you find it exciting? speaker-2: It's it's funny. I have always kind of been like a gym rat. Like I love lifting. I was always like I was pretty close with my strength coaches at school. And I think just playing, you know, multiple sports growing up, you kinda had to do stuff outside of tennis. And so I think it hasn't been too much of a crazy adjustment. Like, you know, I I love to run, I'll I'll lift like four times a week. I'm attempting to swim, but God, it's bad. It's really, really bad. So I should probably stop doing that. It's tough. But it's just it's so lonely sometimes and I'm lucky I my boyfriend was a professional runner so he will come and you d do stuff with me and it's fun to be able to, you know, still play with some of my friends on court and, you know, go for runs or whatever. But it is pretty lonely. I'm not gonna lie. speaker-0: Yeah. It's just so different like going from having a group of girls that you do like every single thing with, like every workout, every practice, every conditioning session with to now not even having like a plan. That was my my biggest thing when I started working in corporate. I'm like so I'm at the gym. Like I can get to the gym. I don't have a problem like waking up and going there. But what what do I do? speaker-2: What do I do? And I'm so like, I don't know if guys feel this way too, and maybe it's just me. I'm like, I know way too much to do a workout class. I am so elite. I was an athlete. I don't need to do workout class. And I'm looking at these girls, I'm like, wait, maybe I should try speaker-1: The overconfident speaker-2: it. No, literally. I'm like, wait, that actually looks kind of fun. Like maybe I should just do it. Yeah. But yeah, it's yoga. speaker-0: Yeah. That's been like a good workout. speaker-2: Good for you. That is so good for your mental, especially in corporate too. Man, if I could do that after a day. No. I'd be a different p person. I'd be way nicer, honestly. speaker-1: I was wanna say pretty good. speaker-2: Thanks, guys. I appreciate it. Nah, just don't piss me off. Yeah, exactly. speaker-1: that's so funny. Yeah, no, it's definitely an adjustment. I do, I agree. I do feel like I don't struggle with the actual exercise part. It's more so I'm just like, mm, I'm all alone. I have no like no one cheering me on as I'm like deadlifting this. speaker-2: And the other thing too, it's like, what's the goal? Like I feel like there was always a goal, always like, like if I, you know, get this time on a run, that's gonna help me on court. Or you know, if I strengthen my left side in the weight room, like that's gonna help me with X, Y, and Z. And now it's like, yeah. I mean, other than to look good, like what am I doing? Like actually. That's speaker-1: Yeah, no, originally speaker-2: the hardest part. speaker-1: Yeah, originally you're doing it for your sport, which makes sense because everything kind of ties into your performance. And then it was just like, now I don't have anything tying to that. But for me, for me, I feel like it's just to feel better and feel healthier for myself. Like, yeah, I agree. The look good part is definitely a part of it. But I just feel better when I do it. But I do understand like Sometimes I'll be in the gym and I'm just like, well, I don't really need to run that other mile. I could just stop now. Like I'm really bad at pushing myself. Like really bad at it. speaker-2: I feel like it's great. Like it's I mean, and maybe you guys have some teammates like this too, but it's so funny. I'm I'm close with a lot of my teammates and some of them just don't work out at all. And I'm like, How? Like you were a fun you were better at tennis than I am. Like, how could you not do anything? And I have a feeling they'll get back into it, but it cracks me up. And I'm like, These are like the two best girls that were on our team. Yeah, just like don't do anything. They're like, No, have no desire. Yeah. Yeah. speaker-1: Yeah, no, I wasn't go ahead, Anya. speaker-0: Sorry. I was just gonna say I feel like everyone just needs to do like a better job of finding balance because like yeah, some people who went like so hard in college and like again, like just you just gotta find like other hobbies and then just balance it with the working out and it'll all be good. But yeah, for me I'm like if I don't work out, I will corporate is just draining. speaker-1: Yeah, you gotta work out or else speaker-2: At our core, we're all athletes too, and it's like that's always gonna be a part of us. So yeah, maybe we're not training for a match, but we're all moved our bodies since we were four years old. Like yeah, we're not gonna just suddenly stop. That doesn't make any sense. speaker-1: Exactly. No, I always say that we're still athletes, honestly. Like forever. speaker-2: For sure. For sure. Right. speaker-1: So I'll still do it's so funny. I'll still do like athletic movements in the gym. You know how people always joke about the little packs, the summer packs that you speaker-2: You guys. speaker-1: I'm like, I need one of those right now because maybe I'd actually get back into speaker-2: Jumping on a box jump and like doing flip and be and you're like, wait, why what like people are like looking at you, you're like, wait, I don't need to do this. speaker-1: What is she training for? It was so funny. So my my husband is a professional soccer player, so he's obviously still in the thick of it. And he we were just in like our neighborhood the other day and he was doing his workout and sprints down the road. He speaker-2: my gosh, that's hilarious. speaker-1: comes out and sh she goes, Sir, I just have to ask, what are you training for? speaker-0: Hm. speaker-2: He should have just lied. You should have been like the FBI. I'm actually in the FBI. Don't worry about it. Don't worry about it. Yeah, yeah. speaker-1: But I found that hilarious. Yeah, no, it was speaker-2: So funny. speaker-1: We also have some fun questions that we always like to end with. speaker-2: okay, hit me. speaker-1: one thing that we've been asking everyone is what is your weirdest superstition, whether that be on the court or off the court? speaker-2: Okay, so on the court, this is an easy one. I had to do my hair the exact same way every single time. And I did like very intricate braids. Like I would do like You remember that? Yes. And then like towards the end, I threw some purple in my hair. So like I was very superstitious about that. Like if and I knew like if my hair was bad, I was cooked. Like it was just gonna be a really bad day. And I will everybody asks me this. Everybody asks me this. My hair is real because I feel like that's the only thing that people care about. That's literally the only thing people care about, like every single time. And I've honestly stopped fighting with people because they're like, No, it's not. I'm like, okay. Like, guys, yeah. This is You're right. No, you're right. so just had to put it out there as a disclosure because it's so funny. Like it cracks me up when people are like, like I remember you, like you're the girl with the really blonde hair. Like it's not like, like I remember you, like you were a good tennis player. Like it's like, you had like the speaker-0: I'm more than that. speaker-1: Yeah, I I'm more than just a blonde girl. speaker-2: Please. speaker-0: And then obviously I have to ask, since the name of our podcast is Yips and Giggles, have you ever had the Yips? speaker-2: gosh. Actually, okay, this doesn't qualify as the Yips, but I have two really funny stories. So I was like literally a psycho. I still am, but like on court and my coach two times. The first time I was like literally just so stressed. It wasn't like I was missing, but like I just wasn't thinking. Yeah. So she's she starts singing Bob Marley to me on the court. She's like, Every little thing is gotta be on right and I'm like This literally I'm going to punch you. So that was like when I was like mentally breaking down. And then another time I was mentally breaking down and I don't know where she got them from, but she comes out with like a bucket of frozen grapes. And is like, You sh you should like feel these in your mouth. Like before you f before you go to the base line. Are you high? I speaker-1: Like sensory thing? Yeah. speaker-2: have no idea. So those were like the two times I remember in college being the most stressed and just having the strangest suggestions brought to me. But Hey, listen, whatever works, works. It's distraction. It didn't work though. That was the thing though. Like that was the saddest thing. Like it just made me mad. Like I'm like, I need a new coach. This is so weird. speaker-1: I feel like it might work for some people, but personalities speaker-2: Maybe so. speaker-1: one click. Yeah. That's speaker-2: Yeah, I know. speaker-1: funny. That was honestly so cool. speaker-0: That was great. speaker-2: This was so fun. Like, this is such a cool idea, and I hope that you guys continue to do it. It's super fun. It's super fun to watch. Like, I think it's great. So speaker-1: Appreciate it so much. Thank you all for listening. Give us a follow here on Apple or Spotify, or you can also watch our podcast videos on YouTube to keep up with us. You can also find us on our Instagram or TikTok at Yips and Giggles to see what we're up to. See you next week. And of course, in the meantime, don't take life too seriously and have a laugh on us.