subject: 3 Great Reasons To Roller Skate [print this page] Roller skating may seem like an activity from a bygone era, back when roller rinks were all the rage and essential roller skate accessories included 80's hair, but roller skating has actually remained consistently popular over the years among children and adults alike.
Small wonder, too. Roller skating has evolved with the times, and its enthusiasts can list tons of reasons why it's a sport that endures the test of time.
Exercise
Roller skating is fantastic full-body exercise. The glutes and quads get an incredible workout as you lean into the lunge when you skate down the street, and the abdomen, calves, and arms all get in on the action to help maintain your balance as you move from side to side.
The American Heart Association recently added roller skating as one of its top aerobic activities along-side mainstays like jogging and biking. It's spectacular for cardiovascular health and it's a lot of fun into the bargain. You'll barely notice you've gotten a workout!
Making New Friends
Picking up any new hobby generally comes hand in hand with making a few new friends, but roller skating has the unique virtue of putting you in contact with lots of potential new friends over the course of a day as you wheel around. Head over to a skate park to get to know other enthusiasts, or strike up a conversation with someone who's pleased to discover that roller skates aren't gone for good.
If you get a good skate bag or case (you can find them in the roller skate accessories section of most skating websites) you can even skate to work and keep them neatly stowed during the day and throw them on to become the cool guy who skates to work.
Get in the Game
There are tons of roller sports, including speed skating, group skating, aggressive inline skating, roller hockey and roller derby, along with lots of different styles of artistic roller skating, from figures to dance to freestyle. You can meet lots of new people and get involved in a community that can help you improve your skills and get seriously comfortable on a pair of skates.
Make sure you take care of your feet if you decide to get into the sports action, though. Roller skate accessories like contoured insoles and toe savers can help you modify your skates for comfort and ensure you get the support you need to keep playing hard.
Get the Family Involved
Need one more reason to strap on a pair of roller skates? It's a great activity for the family to do together. Little kids will often pick it up even more quickly than parents do, and you'll get them excited about spending some time outside. Get them some knee pads and a helmet and they'll stay safe while having a blast.
