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Latest research shows that we are watching more television than at any time since 1992, with the average viewer watching 3 hours and 45 minutes each day! More than 10 million viewers tuned in to watch Dancing on Ice, so I know I’m not alone when I say how much I enjoy watching the show. I’m not quite sure what it is that I find so fascinating.
Maybe it’s wondering which celebrity is going to be able to rise to the challenge of some fairly complicated routines, looking at the changes in their physique over the weeks and improvements in skill (certainly it doesn’t always follow that the most athletic performer demonstrates the greatest improvements) or just trying to see who’s going to fall over each week or gets the nastiest comments from the judges!
It all makes for some pretty riveting viewing, although it does seem a shame that people who would spend more than 3 hours a day watching TV are often the very same ones who profess to having no spare time to exercise. Exercise doesn’t have to be gym based and maybe Dancing on Ice could be the inspiration to try something new?
If the show has inspired you to think about ice-skating, let’s look at its benefits, what it can do for you and understand more about it as a form of exercise for the general public.
There are ice rinks in most major towns in the UK and many have adult training programmes for those who want instruction in the basic skills without the pressure to compete with fast-learning children! Many ice-skating Coaches say the biggest obstacle for adults wanting to pick up the sport is the fear of falling and a lesson can help you to overcome that fear.
Whilst ice-skating offers exciting exercise opportunities, don’t forget about in-line skating, which offers many of the same physiological benefits without the associated time or cost constraints. A pair of in-line skates, protective equipment and a safe, flat road surface is all that you need for a great workout!
Many of you reading this will be wondering just how good ice-skating is as a form of exercise. Don’t forget there are many types, each of which has its own specific demands, however, all can be considered as excellent aerobic exercise just like cycling and running. According to the U.S Figure Skating Association, ice-skating burns 250 to 810 calories per hour. Generally the harder/faster you skate, the more calories are burned. One difference between skating and running is that skating is kinder to the joints (so long as you’re not doing leaps and jumps!) so it would be easier to keep going at a set rate. As such, ice-skating in its many forms is a great exercise for building up endurance.
There’s no doubt about it, skating also improves muscle tone. During skating, the leg muscles do most of the work. Let’s have a look at the primary ones:
So there’s no doubt about it, ice-skating can be a pretty thorough workout! All these muscles are going to work particularly hard because all of the moves need balance and control.
When you consider all the leg lifts that are performed in ice dancing, you will appreciate that it’s a great example of what’s known as an “open chain exercise”. An example of this is where you raise one foot off the ground and can move that leg in any direction or sequence of movements. This is a great way to target one set of muscles for strengthening but it does increase stress to the joint involved. Think of the dancing on ice routine where the participant skates on one leg while lifting and moving the other in many directions in the air. It’s worth noting here that this type of movement could put pressure on the moving joint, so is best avoided by anyone with knee or hip problems.
Mental fitness is also a factor of ice skating in particular, with a high-level of concentration being needed by beginners through to the choreographing of complex routines for more experienced skaters. Regardless of your ability, skating is a sociable sport which invariably involves interaction with other people.
It’s also one of those sports you can do whether young or old, and for a lifetime. It does not require a partner or a team, and can be as social as you want it to be. And remember, the challenge of learning something new can help to keep you excited and motivated about your new sport!
Finally, remember that when you are looking at your own achievements and comparing them to the fabulous improvements made by the celebrities in “Dancing on Ice”, they are training like professional athletes! They have the finest coaches and are invariably training for as much as eight hours per day, so make sure you have realistic expectations surrounding your own progress and stick at it!
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