There are tons of benefits to roller skating. Did you know that roller skating is a great family activity? 

In this day and age it is important for families to spend time together. South Source, a publication of South University in Georgia points out that there are many advantages for families to spend time together. According to the article family time leads to stronger emotional ties between parents and children, more open communication, higher performance in school, and less behavior issues. We don’t know about you, but all of these benefits sound amazing to us! So, what are you waiting for?!

Lockport Family Nights

We offer three sessions a week for family skating in Lockport.

Lockport Weekend Family Fun

Our Lockport rink has great weekend family deals as well! Join us on Saturdays and Sundays for tride and true family fun.

Congratulations, by now you probably have mastered the art of skating forwards! Learning to skate is a big deal. It is fun, keeps you youthful, and poses health benefits to keep you fit and healthy. However, there’s more to skating than just going in a straight line! You must also be able to turn. Well no worries, in this post you are going to learn the basic steps to turning on roller skates. 

Turning a corner is all about how you hold your footing. Below are some simple steps to break down how to smoothly turn a corner on roller skates. However, if you need a more visual break down you can find a video at the bottom to help you out.

1. Leaning

The first and most important part of learning to turn is leaning into your turn. This means if you want to turn right, you are going to lean to the right, making your nose, right knee, and right toes all in line with each other. Once you have that, it is on it step 2!

2. Pushing

Your not literally going to be pushed, but you will be pushing. This step is done with the opposite foot, the one you are not leaning on. You are simply going to push this skate out and away from you so that it makes you start to turn.

Switching directions is as simple as bringing both skates back together and transferring your weight from one foot to the other directions you want to turn. This may sound a little confusing, but once you try it, you will catch on quickly. Remember to keep trying and don’t give up. Watch this video for a visual demonstration.

Roller skating is an activity that has been around for generations and it’s an activity that people of all ages can partake in and enjoy. Grandparents who remember lacing up to roller skate during their youth and cruising around rinks and streets can relive those fun times and regain their energy while skating with children and grandchildren. Benefits of roller skating are both emotional and physical as you share quality time with your family while participating in a fun form of low-impact exercise. 

Working out without even knowing it

As you sail across the floor with your children and grandchildren at roller skate rinks, you’re getting an amazing workout. Happily, roller skating is so much fun, that you won’t even realize it’s exercise. Amid loops, turns, spins, and backward skating, you’re burning calories, improving cardiovascular health and strengthening the bond with your family. In a society where everyone seems glued to his or her smart phone and tablet screens, participating in this family-friendly physical activity has the ability to snap everyone out of their technology addiction.

Health benefits of roller skating

Along with strengthening family bonds and escaping technology comas, lacing up to roller skate has additional health benefits including:

Low-impact – Unlike other forms of exercise such as running that strain and damage knees and joints, roller skating is low-impact and joint-friendly. The fluid movements as you roller skate mimic those of dancing or running, but are thankfully free of impacts that can damage joints.
Whole-body workout – The strength and balance required for roller skating works your arms, legs, core, and cardiovascular system. Your legs and glute muscles receive the most benefits from skating, as does your core as you push through movements and maintain balance. Strong legs, improved coordination, and balance are beneficial for all ages.
Burn calories – Enjoy roller skating with your children and grandchildren and burn as many calories as other aerobic workouts. What makes skating better than traditional aerobic exercises is that you’re doing it with family while listening to great, upbeat music, making memories, and having fun.

Exercise for all skill levels

Even novices who roller skate slowly around the rink are receiving health benefits. The mere act of standing up on four wheels takes strength, balance, and coordination. Grandparents can teach younger children and vice versa and soon everyone is lost in the fun of the activity while enjoying quality time with family.