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1. What should I wear to class?

Wear the right clothing and gear. This isn't just about boosting your confidence; it's also a form of injury prevention. Things to consider:

• Wear sufficiently warm clothing. Choose trousers, slacks, or figure-hugging long pants that allow for free movement and provide warmth. Wearing pants will help prevent ice burn and can either prevent or minimize grazing on the ice.
• Wear layered clothing. This is important so that you can dress up and down depending on how hot or cold you're feeling as you practice. Polar fleece, merino, other wool, thermals, etc. are all good choices for preventing loss of heat and for repelling water.
• Consider appropriate accessories such as gloves, a hat, and leg warmers to help keep you warm.
• A properly fitted pair of skates is a must. If you're not sure whether you'll stick with skating, rental skates are a good choice. Rental skates are high quality, and you'll be able to try a variety of sizes.
• Helmets and kneepads are recommended for beginning skaters.

2. What are the health benefits of skating?

The more you practice, the faster and more agile you'll become. Figure skating requires strength for the jumps and flexibility for certain movements. You'll need to do physical conditioning and stretches regularly at home. You'll only see results if you do it regularly, preferably three-to-four times a week. Exercises such as sit-ups and planking can help to train your core muscles for a higher jump. Squats can strengthen your thigh muscles for a sit spin. Even if you haven't reached spinning and jumping yet, you could start training now so that you'll be able to master the jumps and spins faster next time. Utilize the National Dynamic Warm-Up to prepare before you get on the ice.

Joint & Muscles

Skating works nearly every muscle group in the body, and gliding requires synchronized movement of the legs, which is important for joint flexibility. It also builds up the leg and abdominal muscles.

Cardiovascular

Like any workout, skating is great for cardiovascular health. It gets the blood pumping and the heart rate up. And it's a lot of fun to glide around the ice; unlike with other types of exercise, you probably won't even remember that you're working out!

Balance, Coordination & Weight Management

Strengthening your muscles and improving your joint health leads to better balance. So does trying to stay standing on the ice. By learning to engage your muscles to stay standing, you're not only toning them but also improving your control over your body and your endurance. According to Harvard Medical School, ice skating will burn up to 200 calories per hour, making it a great way to lose or maintain weight when combined with a healthy diet.

Stress Management

Working out, in general, is a great way to relieve stress because physical activity releases endorphins in the brain. Learning to ice skate also boosts self-confidence and hones focus as you learn the many new moves skating offers, like crossovers, going backward, and spinning. Bringing friends to the rink or meeting new people during lessons is also a great way to relax and unwind after a long week at work. The Pelham Skate School's Adult Program is a great way to make friends. Having friends who share the same hobbies as you can help you to learn faster. Not only can you exchange skating tips with them to help each other out, but you will also feel less lonely when you are at the rink. This will make your skating experience fun and exciting. Best of all, knowing that your friends are going too will act as a motivation to keep you going!