Roller skating is fun, but it’s not just fun. It’s actually an awesome fitness activity that can help you get and stay in shape, with an impressive list of benefits. Keep reading to learn about some of the health benefits of roller skating, and check out our schedule to plan your visit to our Fort Collins skating rink!
Making Exercise Fun
Staying active is more challenging than ever these days; in fact, over 60% of U.S. adults fall short of the recommended physical activity standards according to the CDC. 25% of U.S. adults are not physically active at all, and this lack of exercise has serious health repercussions, like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The good news is that you don’t have to go from the couch to running marathons. Getting just 30 minutes of exercise—of any intensity—5 times per week is enough to have significant health benefits. And if you’re exercising at a vigorous intensity level, just 20 minutes 3 times per week can have the same benefits.
The key is to find activities that you enjoy, so you actually want to do them. Enter roller skating!
Health Benefits of Roller Skating
Heart Health
Cardio exercise increases heart rate and keeps it up, while also forcing the respiratory system to work harder. It’s super important for both cardiovascular and respiratory health, and roller skating is definitely one of the most fun ways to get it! Other examples of cardio exercise include jogging, running, biking, and swimming. However, roller skating isn’t just good for your heart. It also has other health benefits.
Core Strength
You probably already know that roller skating can tone and strengthen your legs, but did you know that skating is also a great way to tone your core muscles? Your core goes beyond the abs, also encompassing the pelvic floor, obliques, glutes (aka the booty), and the lower back muscles. Core strength is extremely important to your health, as these muscle groups are used in everyday movements like bending, sitting, turning, and standing. Jobs that involve a lot of standing, sitting, carrying, or lifting (so most jobs) can be very painful if you don’t have sufficient core strength to maintain good posture.
Balance and Agility
Roller skating not only tones those core and leg muscles, but you may also notice that doing it regularly improves your balance and agility! Stronger core muscles are essential to balance, making tiny adjustments that you might not even notice to maintain your equilibrium. The more comfortable you get on wheels, the more agile you’ll be. That can have benefits off the skating rink as well! For instance, if you trip on or stumble, you may be able to recover more quickly and avoid a fall.
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