Ice skating is one of the unique types of physical activity, which is both a sport and a wonderful recreation. In addition, figure skating is one of the most beautiful sports. It is a pleasure to watch him as a spectator. But since our article is addressed to those who have already started skating or are just about to do it, we will talk today not about the spectacular side of figure skating, but about its practical benefits for human health.
To feel its beneficial effect on yourself, it is not at all necessary to become a professional figure skater - it is enough to learn how to stand on skates and then regularly visit the skating rink. And for pleasure, and to receive a powerful charge of positive energy.
We leave on ice ... overweight
Figure skating is an excellent cardiovascular exercise. This is the same as if you were jogging, but there is no pressure on the knees characteristic of running. You can even increase the intensity of aerobic exercise when skating by swinging your arms.
Once on the ice, and wanting to train hard, you get just an amazing opportunity to get rid of excess weight. And here there are three components of success: time, distance and continuity. Let's take a closer look at these factors.
Time. If you ride for half an hour a day and three times a week, you will definitely lose weight. Now imagine what the rate of dropped kilograms will be if you practice figure skating for an hour or two hours a day and four times a week. Impressive, isn't it?
Distance. Suppose it takes you 30 minutes to cover one kilometer. In this case, you can say goodbye to the dream of losing excess weight. Well, except that the blades of the skates will serve you forever. But you didn’t buy skates for that! Therefore, your desire to lose weight should be accompanied by more and more records of time spent on the passage of a certain distance. In other words, each time this distance should go "in growth".
Continuity. Once you start your workout and set a certain distance, do your best to go through it without stops and pauses. Having thus ensured the effect of continuity, you will get a different effect - extra pounds will go away. FYI: An hour-long “jog” on skates will save you 400 calories.
Skating trains endurance
Many dream of becoming hardy in order to successfully withstand various trials. However, they do not know how to successfully train it in themselves. Our advice: get on your skates, and you will see how an old dream begins to come true.
How can figure skating train endurance? Very simple - by maintaining a steady pace throughout the entire period of time spent on overcoming a given distance. If you are a beginner, then start with short distances, gradually increasing them with each workout.
Skating also helps to strengthen muscle tone. Although it mainly works the leg muscles, there are benefits for the whole body, especially for the lower back and abdominal muscles.
Many muscle groups are also developed during skating, which are sometimes impossible to reach even with the help of special simulators in the gym. By devoting at least an hour to figure skating three times a week, you will become the owner of a good figure and beautiful posture.
Improves psychological state
What do other people do when they are in a bad mood or stressed? They “jam” them with high-calorie food, “drink them down” with large doses of alcohol, or “strangle” them in tobacco smoke. Neither the first, nor the second, nor the third methods can neither distract you from problems, nor solve them. Figure skating, of course, also cannot change the objective circumstances of your life that have become the sources of your moral and psychological stress, but it can, firstly, change your point of view on problems, and secondly, help you cope with them better.
You can come to the skating rink alone, or you can come with your wife and children or in the company of friends. Thus, to lay a wonderful tradition, which will become a unique unifying principle that can smooth out misunderstandings and temporary difficulties.
It is useful for shy and uncommunicative people to go out on the ice. At the skating rink, they will be able to liberate themselves, as there will always be a reason to kindly laugh at themselves and make new acquaintances.
Know how to ride - become self-confident
You can often see how even young people walk very carefully in ice, obviously afraid of falling and getting injured. For those who know how to skate, such fears disappear - a person becomes more confident in himself. This is achieved due to the fact that training on the rink makes it possible to control your body, make it obedient and manageable. In parallel with this, both children and adults become calmer psychologically, that is, their fear of being in an awkward situation from a sudden fall disappears.
Having learned to skate, many people experience a feeling of superiority over those who have not yet “conquered” the ice distance. Of course, superiority in a good way. And this is also a self-confidence factor that stimulates new results (“I could”, “I can do even better”, “I will always be the first”, etc.).
Skating perfectly helps to hone the plasticity of movements, their elegance and expressiveness. Moreover, you can slide on the ice to the music without much skill, and the sense of rhythm will not keep you waiting, it will come with time.
"Hit" skates on ill health
Skating takes place most often in the fresh air, which is extremely important for health. Considering that a modern person spends a significant part of his time in the office in front of a computer or at home ... also in front of a computer, then skating is an effective fight against physical inactivity, which has become a real scourge of our time. If you do not “hit” it with skates, then first there are postural disorders, and then scoliosis and osteochondrosis.
As a result of training, the body's defenses increase, the state of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems improves. If you are prone to frequent colds, you have a chronic cough and are diagnosed with heart disease, in which the load is in principle acceptable, then skating is a direct way to improve health. But so that this goal does not become unattainable, regular classes are needed. And regularity, in turn, becomes a good (and pleasant!) Way to prevent and treat these ailments.
The positive impact of figure skating on health is higher if the skating rink is outdoors. But if the winter is not frosty, then riding in the fresh air will be problematic. However, today nothing is impossible: you can skate not only in winter and at the appropriate temperature outside the window, but also at any other time of the year. Such wonderful opportunities for a wonderful pastime are provided by artificial ice.
Who can't go on the ice
Unfortunately, for such a pleasant, tonic and healthy activity as figure skating, there are serious contraindications. The most serious of them are, of course, problems with the musculoskeletal system. Skating is associated with jumps, as well as the likelihood of frequent falls, which is extremely unacceptable when:
- problems with the spine;
- weak bone tissue;
- congenital dislocations of the joints;
- connection problems.
If you suspect that you or your child have one or more of these problems, or know about their existence for sure, then before starting figure skating, you should consult and carefully examine a traumatologist.
If your child has vision problems, he wears glasses, but he is very drawn to ice training, do not prohibit him from doing this. Only at the same time, take the responsibility to ensure that the child does not receive heavy loads, which are undesirable in his condition and can seriously harm him.
We and our children skate on an open or closed rink, it is always cool enough on the ice. Therefore, for people suffering from kidney disease, it is most reasonable to refuse figure skating. Or at least pay more attention to clothing to avoid hypothermia.
Which of us is not familiar with the phrase: “I have absolutely no free time!” In fact, finding three times a week for just one hour is not at all difficult. Let's try to convince you to set aside this time and spend it with maximum benefit.
In order for you to have a wonderful mood and a slender figure, it is not necessary to go to the gym, it is enough to visit the ice rink several times a week! There is no need to buy special equipment, you can always use the rental. Why skates?
General health promotion
Both for an adult and for a developing child's body, figure skating will be of great benefit. Regular exercise leads to an impressive increase in endurance. Many famous figure skaters were weak in childhood, and playing this sport, they not only restored their physical abilities, but also achieved outstanding results. If training is held on an open rink, then this is also a great opportunity to be in the fresh air.
Formation of correct posture and good sports shape
When skating, a muscle group is active, which is difficult to access in ordinary classes, even with the use of modern simulators. Colossally develops the muscles of the legs, back and abs. Be sure to maintain a constant pace, which requires the expenditure of your strength and energy. You learn to tolerate gradually increasing loads and will be able to ride longer distances or increase the number of workouts. All muscle mass comes into tone and, as a result, an amazing posture and excellent physical shape.
Training of the vestibular apparatus and honing the coordination of movements
The vestibular apparatus is of great importance for human life, it is a kind of navigation system of our body. The ability to keep balance, navigate in space significantly affects the quality of life. This organ is fully involved in our ability to move around. Performing a complex with a variety of turns, jumps and multiple rotations, we not only train, but also strengthen it, and in a way that is pleasant for us.
Weight loss and staying lean
In one hour of skating, you burn from 250 to 850 calories! The number of calories burned depends on the intensity. The same amount is spent on an hourly run. By exercising regularly, you will freely get rid of extra pounds and significantly change the proportions of your body. The main load goes to the legs, hips and buttocks. It is these zones that are considered “problematic” and difficult to change in women. You can achieve perfect forms not by monotonous boring classes in the gym, but by spending time with a smile, with a smile on your face.
Removal of stressful conditions
Figure skating is not only beautiful and exciting, but also a great way to remove negative emotions. Doctors advise to constantly engage not only in those who are prone to stress, but also in adolescent children. Spending their free hours on the skating rink, especially at a transitional age, they become less irritable, joyful and calmly overcome their inherent self-doubt. The consequences of stress are minimized, the development of depression is sharply reduced and mood is noticeably improved.
Improving the functioning of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems
Skating exercises are included in the cardiological group, they minimize the risk of heart attacks, heart attacks, atherosclerosis and vegetative-vascular dystonia. This group also includes swimming, running and walking. The nervous system is normalized and strengthened, the respiratory system is trained. Exercise improves heart function, increases oxygen supply to the lungs, which has a beneficial effect on all organs.
Stretching muscles and boosting immunity
Gliding and performing certain movements perfectly stretches the muscles and tendons, trains the musculoskeletal system. Your torso becomes flexible and can easily cope with smooth movements. Tilts, squats and running on ice will help you get rid of joint problems. The proximity of ice, especially in the fresh air, hardens. Increases resistance to colds, respiratory infections and significantly increases your immunity.
Improving metabolism and digestion processes
In addition to hardening, this sport contributes to the improvement of thermoregulatory processes and metabolism in humans. Children and adults have a healthy appetite, improve digestion and general well-being. From this you become more cheerful, more energetic, less tired, increased efficiency and interest in other activities.
Getting positive emotions and increasing self-esteem
This is a sport that both beginners and experienced skaters alike enjoy immensely. You will experience a wonderful feeling of joy, an unstoppable striving forward and a feeling of spaciousness. Mastering new and complex figures, overcoming big and small difficulties and various physical activities will help you significantly increase your self-esteem and give you confidence in your abilities. In addition to a large number of bright positive impressions and a great mood, you can easily make new friends with common interests.
Unloading and development of mental activity
Active rest is very useful not only for the body, but also for your peace of mind. After a working day, you need to "unload" for your brain cells. During complex pirouettes, you will be completely distracted from various thoughts, as you will concentrate on the exercise. After such a “unloading”, the working capacity of the brain will increase many times over. You will be able to find unexpected, sometimes original solutions to the most difficult issues. There is an opportunity to train not only the body, but also your own mind.
Now that you know almost all the benefits, and your health condition allows you to take up this beautiful sport, you can go to the nearest ice rink with your family, individually or with friends.
Health to you and success!
Ice skating is a great occasion to gather a company in winter when you want to spend time outdoors. Residents of big cities are unspeakably more fortunate - after all, on closed skating rinks they have no chance to freeze even in severe frost. An effective means of having fun for many of us has become an exciting hobby. However, in addition to a charge of positive and good mood, skating is incredibly useful in other aspects:
- Development of muscle tone. First of all, skating actively works the muscles of the legs, lower back and abs. It's no secret that skating enthusiasts have more endurance than those who avoid such training. The key factors for maintaining good physical shape are the intensity and duration of skiing.
- Burning extra calories. In pursuit of the goal of losing weight, you need to ride, constantly increasing the load. It's about the time spent riding, as well as the distance you drive in one workout. Try not to take breaks during one exit on the ice, because it is much more effective to skate for 100 minutes without a break than 4 times for 25 minutes. The main thing is not to overdo it, in the early days you should ride less, but with each new workout you need to beat your own records both in speed and in time.
- Aerobic load. As you know, jogging is a great way to train the cardiovascular muscle. Ice skating is considered even more effective in this regard, since during it the knee joints and spine are not subjected to intense stress during pushes. The intensity of aerobic training can be increased if you actively help yourself with your hands while skating.
- Stability of the vestibular apparatus. Speed skating is considered a wonderful balance training. In particular, in children who regularly skate, there is a decrease in excitability in the organs of balance.
- hardening. Riding in open areas, you can significantly improve the thermoregulatory processes in the body. Cold air, which affects open areas of the body, helps to increase the body's resistance to colds.
- Training of attention and spatial orientation. Skating among a large number of people, making turns or skating in different directions, you can develop skills in spatial orientation and attentiveness.
- Sustainable mental health and self-confidence. Ice skating is a great way to switch off from current circumstances and relax from stress. For some of us, it is quite difficult to control the body and balance, and therefore training requires a high level of determination and readiness, because physically speed skating requires balance and control of the body. Therefore, achieving success and regular victories in skating, you can significantly increase your self-confidence.
Take the opportunity to improve your physical and emotional state, go skating, and regular training will bring you incomparable benefits!
What are the health benefits of ice skating? In order to answer this question, you must at least once try to ride on them. I promise you will feel the effect immediately.
In general, ice skating is an interesting, relatively inexpensive activity that is a great exercise option for the whole family. A great opportunity to strengthen and improve health.
Health benefits of ice skating
Improving the work of the cardiovascular system. Just like walking, running, and swimming, skating is a cardio exercise. Thanks to which, the cardiovascular system is well developed and the risk of heart attack, heart failure and atherosclerosis is reduced.
Increases physical endurance. While riding, you have to maintain a constant pace, which requires the expenditure of strength and energy. Your muscles learn to carry loads, thereby developing the ability to endure and drive longer distances.
Weight loss. While riding, your body, depending on the intensity, burns from 300 to 800 calories in 1 hour. It's great, isn't it. Yes, besides, these are not monotonous exercises in the gym, where you are forced to perform monotonous actions that quickly get bored.
The cure for stress. Fresh air, sun, friends and family will help you have a good time and get away from bad thoughts and problems. In addition, you will increase your self-esteem and confidence by doing these wonderful activities.
Strengthens joints and tendons. If you have joint problems, then the benefits of skating are obvious. Quick leg movements, tilts and squats will help you forget about your problems once and for all.
Physical exercise should be healthy and bring joy and pleasure. Where, you can still train your body and at the same time get a lot of positive emotions and new friends.
To the question "how is skating useful?", it must be said, firstly, that this sport is year-round. This means that the training, health-improving process can continue even in the absence of ice. Roller skates can successfully solve this problem.
Secondly, skating has a positive effect on the entire body. In the course of preparatory exercises and during ice classes, the muscles and ligaments of the foot and lower leg, thigh and abdomen, as well as the entire musculoskeletal system, are strengthened.
By increasing the intensity of the cardiovascular system, blood flow and metabolism improve. Skating strengthens the muscles of the back, which means it forms the correct posture. As a result, existing problems with the spine are partially compensated, which is very important for the normal functioning of the whole organism. And in particular, the feet.
As mentioned earlier in the article "", regular dosed physical activity is necessary for the prevention of this disease. Skating is just one of those types of medical and physical training (), which will help achieve this goal.
Thirdly, in the course of training on ice, calories are burned. The fight against excess weight, as you know, is one of the measures to prevent arthrosis and.
In addition, extra pounds do not improve mood and do not add joy. Therefore, ice skating for weight loss is a completely achievable and reasonable goal.
After a person realizes how useful skating is for him, what problem he can solve by doing this sport, even if only in winter, you can start choosing skates.
Skates for ice skating
There are roller skates for moving on asphalt and skates for skating on ice. According to the blade configuration, they are divided into running blades and plain blades.
Cross-country skates have a thinner and longer blade, and a small toe oval radius. In accordance with their name, they are intended for running over various distances. The design features of the working part of cross-country skates allow them to develop more speed than on other skates.
The simple ones include skates for figure skating, as well as hockey skates. These two varieties have a larger radius of the oval of the toe of the blade. When skating, this circumstance makes it easier for the athlete to perform various figures on the ice, as well as reversing. In the initial period of training, simple ice skates will be preferable.
Ice skating clothing
Ice skating clothing should be comfortable and warm at the same time. For these purposes, a woolen suit is perfect. Often, ice rinks are not filled indoors, but in an open-air stadium. As a result, the athlete may be exposed to wind and precipitation.
In order not to freeze during the training, it is enough to add a light down jacket on top of the woolen suit to the set of clothes for training on ice, which would not restrict movement and protect against hypothermia. The athlete must wear a wool cap on his head. On the feet in boots - woolen socks.
Even if you use ice skating for weight loss, there is no need to dress excessively warm to sweat. No need to strive for one workout to solve the problem of being overweight. The process of weight loss should be gradual.
The set of clothing for training on the ice rink must necessarily include a cotton suit, which is worn under a wool suit. During training, it will protect the body from tingling in contact with wool, and also allow sweat to be collected.
In conclusion, we note that even if you pursue one single goal during ice training - losing weight, and even more so if it is achieving sports records and improving tasks, you need to master the elementary techniques of skating technique. About this - in the article "How to skate."
