Roller skating is a recreational and competitive activity that is known to have many positive health benefits.
The mental health benefits of roller skating are often underappreciated, but we’re here to explain how this simple activity can bring joy to your life by reducing stress, reducing weight, and improving self-confidence.
Roller skating is accessible for all, from young to old, recreational to competitive, and slim to heavy builds. The market for roller skates is now so vast that brands create designs bespoke to certain skater types. For example, roller skates for heavy skaters or trendy roller skates for influencers.
Everyone can benefit from slipping on a pair of roller skates. But you have to be mindful of accidents, and for this you need some advice from first aid and cpr course mississauga.
Reducing stress
Stress is a key driver in determining poor mental health outcomes. Although stress comes and goes with the everyday demands of modern life, we should always take steps to decompress and actively engage in activities that reduce stress.
Roller skating is a great activity for reducing stress.
When you slip on a pair of skates, especially as a beginner, your mind switches from thinking about the cause of the stress to focusing on maintaining your balance and stability on the skates. The smooth rolling motion of roller skating on the open road with fresh air bristling against your face is a guaranteed stress reducer.
Reducing weight
Being overweight is another cause of poor mental health outcomes among many in the population.
Roller skating is an activity with a high-calorie burn, which combined with a healthy diet and lifestyle, will contribute to losing weight. For those weighing 180 lbs, for example, an hour of moderate roller skating will burn up to 500 calories. If you’re doing vigorous roller skating, the calorie burn is higher.
To lose weight, you need to achieve a calorie deficit, so monitoring your caloric intake will help you shift those pounds.
Roller skating is ideal because it can be performed indoors and outdoors, so you can do it all year round, even in those tough winter months.
Roller skating is also inclusive for heavier folk wanting to give the sport a try. Most skate brands include wide-fitting options with extra foot and ankle support. This allows everyone to enjoy the mental health benefit of losing weight by roller skating.
Roller skating also improves muscle definition to allow your body to tone up. Muscle groups that benefit most include the thighs, calves, abs, and glutes.
Improving self-confidence
Roller skating provides a wonderful sense of self-achievement and confidence. The journey of a typical skating beginner starts with a few inevitable falls, bumps, and bruises, but can evolve into a joyful, smooth glide. The satisfaction skaters feel when they can first roll unaided, turn with confidence, or brake with ease is unparalleled.
If you have low self-confidence, trying an activity such as roller skating can significantly improve your self-esteem, and give you the confidence to try out other activities.
Socialising
Often, poor mental outcomes are associated with loneliness.
Roller skating, whether it be through recreational rink skating, roller derby, or down the local skate park, is a very sociable activity that can get you out of the house and meet other people. There are many community skating groups available for you to join and get involved.
Team sports such as roller hockey or roller derby are also great if you want to feel part of a competitive team endeavour.
Family time
Finding an activity that the whole family can enjoy can be tricky, but roller skating may be that activity.
If you sense your family needs a pick-up or the kids are restless, getting everyone down to a skating rink to try out roller skating is a great way to bring the family together.
Many skating rinks put on family events or discos to cater to all of the family’s needs.
Improves mood
It is scientifically proven that exercise produces endorphins otherwise known as happy hormones. The more endorphins that are produced by roller skating, the levels of bad hormones are reduced, which in turn improves your mood.
If you’re having a stressful workday or just want to snap out of a bad mood, roller skating for even 20 minutes can put you back in a good mood and minimise mild forms of depression which can fester if not dealt with.
Final thoughts
Roller skating is an accessible activity that has a vast number of benefits for your mental health.
If you want to reduce stress, lose weight, spend more time with your family, and improve your self-confidence and your mood, roller skating is a great option for you.
Roller skating is also inclusive, as leading roller skate brands produce skates that are available for all demographics, shapes and sizes. If you’re new to the roller skate market, you also don’t need to break the bank to purchase a quality pair of skates
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