More Fun Than Vegetables: The Health Benefits of Ice Skating

Staying healthy isn’t always fun. Eating vegetables instead of dessert and getting up early to hit the gym instead of sleeping in can make a healthy lifestyle feel a little bit dreadful. Where is the fun? 

Try the ice skating rink. You might be surprised to find out that the exhilaration of gliding on the ice is actually a really good workout for your body, too. When you use a synthetic ice rink from Anytime Ice, you can enjoy all of those health benefits any time of the year. 

Ice skating is a full-body workout.

Ice skating looks effortless. With enough practice, it can feel effortless, too. However, ice skating is far from effortless. In fact, it is a workout that involves the entire body. Almost every major muscle group receives a workout during your time on the ice. In particular, ice skating impacts the following areas of your body:

  • Hamstrings
  • Quads
  • Pelvic floor muscles
  • Hips
  • Gluteus maximus
  • Calves
  • Back muscles
  • Abdominal muscles
  • Core muscles

As a result, ice skating is a great way to strengthen and build muscles you might not necessarily use in your daily life. And, you can get all the benefits of a workout without needing to do separate activities to strengthen separate muscle groups. With regular outings on the ice, you can strengthen a whole array of muscles, all at once.

Ice skating builds bone density.

You probably don’t spend much time thinking about your bones. They, however, require attention in order to stay strong over the long-term. As you get older, bone density can decrease and leave you at risk for osteoporosis and other issues. 

Don’t worry, though. You don’t have to add boring bone exercises to your daily routine. You just have to hit the skating rink. In particular, add jumps to your skating repertoire. The gentle stress you place on your bones during these jumps encourages your body to build up bone mass over time. 

Jumping isn’t as scary as it sounds. You don’t even have to jump very high (though you might be surprised at just how adventurous you feel about getting air on the ice once you get the hang of it). You just need to be consistent. About 10 minutes of jumping, on a synthetic or a real ice rink, every day can improve your bone density. Plus, you get to enjoy the exhilaration of the jump and the pride of expanding your abilities. 

Ice skating is good for the joints.

Muscles and bones aren’t the only parts of your body that benefit from some regular ice skating. It turns out that the joints also do better during regular ice skating outings. While you may simply be trying to keep your balance in order to glide smoothly over the ice, your joints are rejoicing in the opportunity to gain flexibility and strength. Add in some legwork and new moves to really help your joints gain strength. 

Ice skating develops balance. 

This might seem rather obvious. You cannot ice skate if you cannot balance successfully on your skates. Skating improves your balance over time by strengthening your muscles and joints and by forcing you to learn how to adjust your body to manage on the narrow skates. 

Skating also gives you a greater awareness of your body and of where it exists in space. Thanks to this improved ability to understand and work with your body, you enjoy better balance over time. This improved balance can help you to carry yourself with more confidence and grace.

Ice skating helps with weight loss. 

Skating might feel fun and effortless, but it actually forces you to exert a great deal of effort. This effort, it turns out, is a great calorie burner. You can burn between 200 and 600 calories an hour while ice skating. The exact amount you burn depends upon a number of factors, including the following: 

  • Body Shape
  • Weight
  • Skating Speed
  • Skating Movements

Thanks to skating’s ability to burn calories quickly, it is good for weight loss and management. While you are having fun on the ice and learning new skills and enjoying time with friends, you are also burning calories and increasing your metabolism. That can make it easier to keep your weight under control without needing to restrict your diet, eat foods you do not like, or force yourself into an exercise routine that you find boring. 

Ice skating is an aerobic workout. 

If you find yourself out of breath while ice skating, that is because you are enjoying an aerobic workout. The faster and harder you skate, the better the workout will be. The aerobic nature of ice skating has many benefits for the health of your heart. Regular ice skating allows you to improve your heart health without feeling as if you are putting any effort in at all. 

Ice skating is fun. 

The best part of ice skating is the fact that it is, quite simply, an enjoyable pastime. There are many reasons people like to go ice skating. Some enjoy the feeling of gliding, effortlessly, over the ice. It can feel freeing compared to the comparative drudgery of walking. Others appreciate the opportunity to skate outside, where they can enjoy the beauty of their surroundings (on a synthetic ice rink, you can skate outdoors even when the weather is too warm for real ice to stay frozen). Some want to go ice skating because they enjoy the challenge of learning new moves, or the exhilaration of jumping. 

Whatever your reason is for loving a spin on the ice, this pastime’s enjoyable nature makes it very popular. And, it makes it very healthy for you too. After all, one of the main reasons people avoid exercising is because it is boring or difficult. 

Because ice skating is neither of those things, people tend to enjoy it more than, say, heading to the gym. Since they enjoy it so much, it is easier for them to head out to the skating rink for an hour or two of exercise. That means that you enjoy more of a workout, and you never even feel as if you are “exercising.” You are just having fun, and your body is reaping the benefits as you do so. 

Ice skating lifts the spirits. 

During the cold winter months, the winter blues can hit hard. They can make you feel tired, depressed, sad, or irritable. You may want to spend the winter months hibernating in your warm bed rather than going about your daily tasks. Even when the weather is warmer and the sun is shining, you may have bad days when you experience discouragement or a low mood. 

Ice skating is the perfect antidote because it helps to lift the spirits. For example, skating outside in the brisk air can give you the opportunity to enjoy your surroundings and feel invigorated. Even if you skate inside, the opportunity to be active can help to get endorphins flowing. These endorphins lift your mood and reduce your feeling of being stressed. After time on the ice, you may find yourself feeling happier and more relaxed. In addition, the opportunity to get away from the stressors in your life can help you to go back to them with a fresh mind and a more relaxed demeanor. 

Ice skating is also uplifting as it tends to be a social activity. People do not often skate alone. Even if you come alone to the skating rink, you will find yourself surrounded by others who are enjoying the same activity. The opportunity to spend time with others can make a big difference in your mood for the rest of the day. 

The Many benefits of ice skating. 

Ice skating has many benefits. From giving you a full-body workout to lifting your spirits and reducing stress, this activity is the perfect one for many reasons. Fortunately, you do not have to limit yourself to ice skating only when the weather is cold. With a synthetic ice rink, you can skate anytime, anywhere you want. These rinks are perfect for parks and recreation departments, festivals, community gatherings, birthday parties, family reunions, ski resorts and more. Giving people the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of ice skating, and have fun, is priceless. 

Here at Anytime Ice, we offer synthetic ice rink rentals for whatever event you may have. With professional set up and an emphasis on safety, we offer you a stress-free way to create a healthy and fun activity that anyone can enjoy, at any time of the year. 

Sources:

http://www.successhealthlifestyle.com/blog-and-articles/the-health-and-fitness-benefits-of-ice-skating/

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.healthfitnessrevolution.com/top-10-health-benefits-ice-skating/%3famp

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vogue.com/article/fitness-ice-winter-workout-skating-tonya-harding-margot-robbie-usfsa/amp

https://www.playkettering.org/health-benefits-ice-skating/