You’ve seen it in the Olympics. Maybe you did it as a child. But did you know that ice skating provides great health benefits?

According to the American College of Sports Medicine, a 150-pound person burns about 600 calories for every hour of continuous ice skating. That is equivalent to running about five miles in one hour. When you add the basic skills of ice skating (such as turning, stopping, and changing feet), the calories burned increases to about 800 to 900 calories per hour!

Ice skating works a variety of muscles. The biggest areas of workout are the inner thigh, hamstrings, gluteal muscles, and the lower back. But like any type of exercise, it is very important to stretch and warm up before you hit the ice!

It is also extremely important to wear skates that fit. Wearing skates that fit improperly can cause major ankle injuries—not to mention the bruises and bumps you might get when falling on the ice.

Where to Ice Skate in Minnesota

Aldrich Arena (Maplewood): This indoor arena offers open skating and skating lessons. Great for spectators, it is home to the Maplewood Figure Skating Club and also hosts more than 100 high school hockey league and play-off games.

Depot Skating Rink (Minneapolis): This indoor rink is located inside the restored shed pavilion. It features floor-to-ceiling glass windows, providing a great view of downtown. It is open for public and private skating, as well as special events.

Eagan Civic Arena (Eagan): This arena provides a variety public skating and ice hockey times. It also offers lessons and is home to the Eagan Ice Crystal Figure Skating Club.

Hopkins Pavilion (Hopkins): This rink has specific times for those who want to play ice hockey and those who would like to ice skate.

Landmark Center (St. Paul): This outdoor rink offers skate rentals and a variety of public skating times. There is a warming tent and many planned activities offered throughout the season.

Maple Grove Community Center (Maple Grove): Open skate times are available on weekdays, and offers skating lessons and ice hockey.

Parade Ice Garden (Minneapolis): This indoor rink is open year-round and offers public skating, skate rental and sharpening, and a hockey rink.

Plymouth Ice Center (Plymouth): Offering three sheets of ice (one Olympic-size, and two professional size), this center has public and private skating.

Peavey Plaza (Minneapolis): A Rockefeller Plaza-style outdoor rink in the terraced plaza outside of Orchestra Hall.

Roseville Skating Center (Roseville): This center has open skating, as well as adult synchronized skating and a variety of other activities.

Schwan’s Super Rink (Blaine): Part of the National Sports Center, this rink has four sheets of Olympic-sized ice. It offers everything from spectator sports to open skating and ice skating lessons.

St. Louis Park Recreation Center (St. Louis Park): The center has two indoor ice arenas for year-round hockey and recreational skating. Ice skating lessons are also offered.

Source: Active.com.