Six reasons why skiing is good for your body
FROM strong abdominal muscles to leaner lower body, here’s why a holiday on the snow could really benefit your waistline, writes LIZ CONNOR
IT IMPROVES CORE STRENGTH
ENGAGING the core muscles, including the back and abdominal muscles, is crucial for helping you to stay upright during a downhill session, as well as protecting the spine from injury.
IT CAN HELP YOU LOSE WEIGHT
IT’S an effective form of interval training, involving high-intensity effort with periods of recovery.
All that stopping and starting is not only a great cardiovascular workout, it can also help shed unwanted winter weight because, during a high-intensity phase, the body burns carbs for an instant hit of energy.
During the recovery, meanwhile, the body burns fat to replenish itself. Research shows this process can continue for hours after training, helping continued weight loss long after a ski session has ended.
IT BOOSTS YOUR MOOD
STUDIES have shown that being immersed in nature can lower blood pressure and levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which calms the body’s fight-or-flight response. Getting on a sunny slope can also give you a healthy dose of mood-boosting vitamin D, which can help combat issues like seasonal affective disorder.
IT PROMOTES DEEPER SLEEP
SKIING is seriously exhausting – from being on your feet all day to side stepping along a mountain, the amount of effort required to get from A to B on skis will tire out even the most unsettled of sleepers.
IT’S A LOWER-BODY WORKOUT
BECAUSE your body is constantly in a crouching position, you’ll feel the burn in your legs, as you work your inner and outer thighs, hamstrings, quads and glutes – much more fun than hours of gym squats.
IT’S GREAT FOR HEART HEALTH
AN hour of downhill skiing can be as effective as cycling or rowing. By regularly getting the heart pumping at a faster rate you can keep arteries clear by raising “good” cholesterol and lowering “bad” cholesterol levels in the blood.