What Ice Skating Means To Me

As some people will be aware, ice skating is something that I am absolutely passionate about. I may not be the strongest skater, but when on the ice I am truly at home with myself - I feel so liberated and alive! Those are the things that are important. Ice skating for me is a place where I am challenged to face by fears, and even simple things work on letting go that bit more, for instance when skating this evening, I forgot my gloves, and for me something as simple as having my gloves give me an added sense of security, so was forced to try and overcome that mental challenge - although will still have my gloves with me the next time to keep my hands warm but was good to feel the confidence without my gloves.

Since I first started skating about two years ago (although with no rink in 18 months has meant my progress has been quite static), it has helped me in so many ways - the more I trust the ice and my blades, the more I am able to let go and improve - the more I trust, and the more my confidence grows, the more I feel as if I am coming home to myself. For me ice skating is a place where I am challenged, and yet, am still able to use certain supports to help me as I progress - for instance I was starting to learn three-turns this evening, so doing it by the barrier helped to give me that confidence to trust the manoeuvre more, as I got used to how the turning and changing legs aspect of it felt like.

In my lesson this evening my coach commented how I had become more confident, and she could see that as my speed was increasing - there is one element where I need to force myself to slow down, as I know I need to become more confident before letting go completely, as this element I find difficult on my non-dominant side. I know I will get there, as am slowly, but surely getting back to where I was on before we lost our only rink in Ireland (not including the North).

I have found since taking up yoga, that I am able to pinpoint things myself and let my coach know, such as when doing inside edges I can sometimes start spinning, so this means having to change my arms a bit. I am finding I am applying the yoga techniques to my ice skating, so that can only benefit my skills.

To me when ice skating, I feel as if I'm flying, and it really is the closest thing to flying. When ice skating there is no headspace for anything else other than concentrating on the elements. Ice skating has so many benefits, in my experience. It has been my experience that when facing the fears and challenges that come hand in hand with ice skating, it has a knock on effect of facing challenges more adeptly when off the ice.

Personally, I would highly recommend ice skating, but only once you have checked with your therapist and /or doctor to see if it is something that is ok for you to do.

In love and light,

Mystique