Why ice skating is a great workout for your abs, calves, hamstrings and quads – think of all those strokes, glides, spins and leaps – and for your mind
- Hong Kong figure skater Kahlen Cheung, 16, who began skating at two years old and now trains five days a week, can attest to its benefits for her mind and body
- Experts agree. It helps your balance, coordination, and weight management, makes your joints more flexible and is a great way to clear your mind, a doctor says
Figure skater Kahlen Cheung Cheuk-ka is performing graceful laps of a city ice rink, occasionally adding gravity-defying spins and twirls to her routine.
Cheung, 16, makes it look easy, but skating provides an intense workout that benefits both her mind and body.
“I head to the rink about five days a week and feel exhausted after a workout,” says Cheung, taking time out from a training session at the Mega Ice rink at the MegaBox shopping mall in the city’s Kowloon Bay neighbourhood.
“You’re in continuous motion so your leg muscles [calves, quads, and hamstrings] become really powerful. Your core is constantly engaged, so your abs are being worked, and all the while trying to look as graceful as a ballerina,” she says. “But at the same time you don’t want your upper body to get too bulky.”
According to Harvard Medical School research, ice skating can burn up to 200 calories per hour, making it a great way to lose or maintain weight when combined with a healthy diet.