Despite my intense hatred for all things cold and winter, living in Alaska has given me the oppourtunity to more easily engage in sports I may never have thought of twice anywhere else. One of my favorite sports to engage in during my leisure time, despite my hatred of the snow, is skiing. There's just something incredible about gliding over the snow so smoothly. Not only does it feel great, but it is great for your body too. Skiing has a lot more health benefits than may meet the eye. Of course, different types of skiing will benefit skiers more in some ways than others, but in general, skiing of any type is a great workout. There's plenty of great reasons for you to start skiing, especially if you live in a colder climate.
Tone and build muscle
Skiing is one of the few sports that provides athletes with a full body workout. When you're gliding, turning, jumping and stabilizing, you're engaging more of your muscles than you might think. Every time you lean, turn and move, you're toning and building muscles. Skiing engaged every muscle in your body in one way or another. If you want to tighten and ton your core muscles even more, you can tense them periodically throughout your trek.
Lose weight
Skiing is one of the most calorie-intense sports to exist. Skiing, depending on the type and intensity, can burn over 1,000 calories per hour! Skiing is intense, and takes a lot of energy and effort, which is why it's a great sport choice for those who are looking to shed a few pounds and trim up a little bit. Additionally, skiing usually takes place in cold weather, so skiers have the advantage of burning a few more calories than they would in warm climates because of the energy it takes for the body to maintain homeostasis in a colder environment.
Heart health
As with any muscle, the more you work and exercise your heart and lungs the better and more efficient it will become at doing it's job. Skiing, because of the intense effort required by participants, is a great workout for the heart and lungs. Skiing is great for getting the heart pumping and the blood flowing, which can improve circulation and heart strength, as well as improve the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues of the body. With heart disease on the rise in Americans, any activity that can improve heart health is a great idea!
Flexibility
Skiing forces participants to become more flexible and balanced. While gliding over the snow, making quick turns and accelerating, skiers are forced to practice balance, stealth and precision, all of which require flexibility. Engaging in skiing on a regular basis will help improve flexibility as well as stability and balance.
Mood
Any kind of physical activity can be beneficial for an athlete, especially those suffering from depression. Getting out in the snow, getting some sun and burning some calories can work wonders on your mood. Physical activity of any kind, but especially the intense activity involved in skiing, causes the body to release endorphins which help boost and improve mood. These endorphins are usually associated with running, being referred to as a "runner's high."
Loading...
No selection was clipped for this page.
