10 Benefits of Inline Skating
Time to Go Inline Skating!
An effective method for stress relief, maintaining a slim figure, improving agility, and getting social media likes might be enough motivation to grab your inline skates this spring. It's not just about enjoying the ride or having a good time with the whole family. Doing a few laps in the park can easily replace monotonous cardio training in the gym and has a positive effect on your mental health.
Easy accessibility, no special training required, and… fashion – these three features have definitely contributed to the popularity of inline skates on the streets. Will inline skating become as popular as winter swimming? Hard to say, but like the latter, it improves fitness, coordination, and strengthens muscles. The health benefits of the sport itself are certainly significant, but inline skating also means endorphins that nourish not just the body but the mind as well! And as for satisfaction... if you’re curious how inline skating relates to grilling, keep reading!
1. Weight Loss
In terms of fat burning, skating can easily compete with jogging. During an hour of skating, you can burn up to 600-700 kcal, equivalent to two medium-sized glazed donuts. Tempting, right? That’s just the beginning! Regular skating can lead to weight loss quite quickly. Just remember to monitor your heart rate and keep it steady during exercise: about 60-70% of your maximum heart rate or around 130 beats per minute. This way, the workout will be more efficient and not overly tiring.
2. Muscle Strengthening
While skating, you maintain a characteristic posture: your body leans forward, your legs slightly bent at the knees, lowering your center of gravity, which helps maintain balance. This posture also engages all major muscle groups – from the legs to the muscles of the abdomen, back, shoulders, and arms. The thigh and glute muscles, in particular, are worked the most. There’s a reason why the hashtag #rollergirl is so popular – inline skating is an excellent sport for women who want to stay fit without building bulky muscles.
3. Healthy Joints
Intense slimming exercises or muscle-building workouts can put a lot of strain on the joints. Luckily, this isn’t the case with inline skating. The movement is much smoother compared to jogging, for instance, and doesn’t require sudden jumps, turns, or shock absorption, meaning the knees and spine aren’t as strained as in other disciplines. This is especially important when returning to sports after a long winter break.
4. Motor Coordination
The aforementioned "skater's posture" forces the entire body to work together. All muscle groups collaborate to maintain balance, which in turn improves coordination. Better coordination of full-body movements enhances flexibility, dexterity, and reduces the risk of injuries. It’s not only useful in sports but in everyday life.
5. Better Endurance
Who says cardio – exercises that strengthen the heart and improve cardiovascular capacity – has to be done only in the gym? Inline skating is a perfect example of aerobic exercise that can be done almost anywhere. The benefits? A body fueled by fresh air, a strong heart pumping blood more efficiently, less fatigue, and more energy. That’s a lot for such a simple and accessible sport, isn’t it?
6. Sport for All Ages
Inline skating is a sport with no age limit. There are almost no contraindications, and it’s considered a safe and universal sport. Of course, before heading out to the city, it’s a good idea to warm up a bit and master the techniques of skating, braking, and… controlled falling. Knee and elbow pads, gloves, and a helmet are essential to protect yourself from potential falls. The versatility of inline skates has led to entire families frequently being seen on park paths. Will inline skates earn the title of favorite outdoor activity? Hmmm… Grilling still seems to hold the top spot... but why not mix things up a bit? Something to think about!
7. Freedom of Movement
Cars – expensive to run and parking is increasingly difficult in cities. Bicycles – a healthier option for the environment and body, but if there are no bike lanes, it can be quite dangerous in heavy city traffic. And inline skates? They take up almost no space, require no special conditions – all you need is a sidewalk, a paved path, and... off you go! It's a great way to commute to work or university, combined with a workout. Two in one, and even healthier!
8. Less Stress
Inline skating in the fresh air is a great way to relax and unwind from everyday life. Depending on your mood and physical capabilities, you can enjoy a leisurely ride or engage in an intense, speed-focused workout. It’s also a good idea to alternate between the two – for example, with interval training on inline skates. Regardless of the speed or technique you choose, skating allows you to spend time pleasantly, distract yourself from surrounding problems, and simply relax. Physical activity is a well-known and recommended way to improve mental well-being. Keep that in mind.
9. Improved Mental Health
Research shows that physical activity can not only prevent depressive disorders but also support their treatment. The positive effect of exercise on mental health has been observed across all study groups, regardless of age, gender, or even the severity of symptoms! Running, jogging, and inline skating have a positive impact on mood. Why? Because during exercise, serotonin – a hormone that boosts mood and energy – is released. Endorphins, released after a workout, help reduce stress and improve mood. They are responsible for eliminating the feeling of fatigue and pain after training.
10. Style
Inline skating has recently become a truly fashionable activity. It might sound amusing, but inline skates are also trendy on social media, particularly on TikTok, where #inlineskating often appears with #lockdown. Why? Because it’s one of the simpler and more enjoyable sports you can do, even in challenging times like lockdowns during the pandemic. You don’t need a club, gym, or court. All you need is reasonably good weather, a stretch of free, preferably paved space, and you’re ready to go! The skates themselves are affordable. You can buy a pair of inline skates from Movino for about 40 EUR. Quite a reasonable price for your own set of wheels. Yes, we’re talking four wheels since inline skates with three large wheels fall into the sports or performance category. The wheels are made of plastic or rubber, ensuring smooth rolling and good traction on surfaces. Wheel size is also important. Movino skates have wheel diameters proportional to shoe size to optimize riding comfort and stability in turns. Each wheel, mounted on an aluminum or plastic frame, has a bearing classified by the ABEC scale. The highest rating – ABEC-9 – guarantees easy and fast rolling and material durability.