The average person needs at least 150 minutes of physical activity every week to stay healthy. For those of us who don’t love the idea of exercising, this might seem overwhelming.
You don’t have to hit the gym or go on long jogs to get active, however. Why not try roller skating instead? It’s a fun way to exercise!
Not sure if it’s right for you? Read on to learn all about some of the top benefits of roller skating for your physical and mental health.
You Can Burn Serious Calories
Many people don’t think of roller skating when they’re trying to lose weight and burn calories, but believe it or not, it can be a calorie-burning powerhouse.
The number of calories you’ll burn while roller skating will vary depending on a few basic factors. Your age, how much you weigh, your level of athleticism, and how intense the skating session is can impact your calorie burn.
Even with these factors in mind, you’ll be burning more calories than you would on a walk around the neighborhood and you’ll have more fun doing it.
Skating doesn’t always feel like a workout. If you’re having fun with friends or learning a roller skating dance routine, time will fly. Before you know it, you’ll have burned through hundreds of calories in a matter of hours.
You’ll Get Plenty of Vitamin D
Assuming that you’re going outside to roller skate, you’ll get plenty of vitamin D exposure (just make sure that you wear sunscreen to protect yourself from dangerous UV rays).
Vitamin D has plenty of benefits. First, it may help your body fight off disease. It supports immune health, so it can also help your body resist common viruses and illnesses.
Vitamin D can boost energy. As a matter of fact, one of the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency is fatigue.
It’s also a natural mood regulator. Many people who experience depression or anxiety benefit from increasing their vitamin D (either through supplements or from getting outside in the sun).
It’s Great for Glutes and Thighs
When you were first learning how to roller skate, you were having a great time trying to scoot yourself around the walking trail, park, or skate rink, right? Well, what happened the next day?
It’s likely that you woke up with a super sore lower body! Your glutes and thighs feel like you’ve done a full hour of leg presses, squats, and hip thrusts. What gives?
When you roller skate with proper form, you keep your center of gravity low. In other words, you’re in a shallow squat position. Even if it doesn’t feel strenuous at the time, squatting for hours while you’re learning how to skate is going to put a strain on your muscles (and that’s a good thing)!
So while it doesn’t feel like you’re “working out,” your muscles don’t know the difference. You’re building both strength and endurance.
Have you ever noticed that many roller derby competitors have thick and muscular thighs? The reason behind that will be clear after a long afternoon of serious roller skating.
It’s Good for Your Heart
Like all exercise, roller skating is great for your heart health. It’s a legitimate aerobic exercise that can get your heart up to 180 bpm!
Aerobic exercise improves your heart’s ability to remove oxygen from your blood and put it to good use. It can also lower your blood pressure and reduce the amount of inflammation in your body.
Because aerobic exercise is also great for stress reduction (largely because of endorphins), it also lowers your chance of stress-related heart conditions.
It Will Improve Your Balance and Coordination
It’s no secret that roller skating requires a lot of balance and coordination. Even if you have the best and most “stable” roller skates (this blog post explains some of your better options), you’re going to experience shaky legs and falls when you’re first getting started (and for the foreseeable future)!
Note that falls are nothing to be afraid of. As long as you’re wearing proper gear, falling won’t be painful and you shouldn’t experience any long-term harm. Always wear a helmet, knee pads, and wrist guards (at least when you’re starting out).
As you improve, your core will start to strengthen. You’ll become more aware of your body and your coordination will get better.
By the time you’re comfortable on 8 wheels, your balance will be better than ever. This will translate into your day-to-day life.
It’s Low-Impact
Do you struggle with painful or weak joints? While you need to be careful while skating (remember: always wear protective roller skating gear), once you get the hang of skating, it’s a low-impact activity.
You don’t have to worry about the heavy impact of running and jumping on your knees. Instead, with a gliding motion, you can stay comfortable.
It Can Be Good for Mental Health
Remember that mental health is just as important as physical health! Lucky for you, roller skating benefits your mental health as well.
Because of all of the vitamin D you’ll be getting from the sun, you’ll have a mood boost! You’ll get an even bigger boost from the endorphins that your body will produce while you’re skating.
Skating is also often a social activity. Routinely socializing with others is also great for your mental health.
Take Advantage of the Benefits of Roller Skating
There are plenty of physical and mental health benefits of roller skating. This fun “exercise” will make staying active and social a breeze once you start feeling comfortable on wheels! Go buy a pair of skates and start learning!
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