We see a lot of people walk through our doors, here, at Wheels in Odenton, MD. From people who have never skated a day in their life, to those who are here every time our hours permit. Each individual skater has their own approach to the rink. Some people like to jam skate, while others prefer to casually roll around rink. Some are die hard quad skaters, and others gravitate towards inline. We are always happy to rent out a pair of skates, but some skaters bring their own. If you can’t decide whether or not to purchase your own skates or keep renting, check out this list of pros and cons for each!

Renting

• If you have a young child, he/she is going to go through many growth spurts. A skate that you buy today may not fit tomorrow!
• Don’t need to worry about bringing your skates from home. You’ll always have a pair of skates here!
• If you only skate every so often (and why would you, it’s so much fun!) it might save you the big expensive of owning your own.

Buying

• If you are an avid roller skater, you can save a little extra money! While it is more expensive to purchase skates in the beginning, over time you’ll save more money.
• One big advantage of buying your own skates is that you have the opportunity to select a pair that best fits your own feet. If comfort is a big thing for you, buying a pair is the way to go.
• It comes with added bonus of picking out a style that best suits you! Red skates, green skates, blue skates or whatever you like! Everyone has their own traits that make them unique, and buying skates gives you the opportunity to express that!

Are you feeling a little blue? It happens to all of us at one time or another, and the most common tendency when this happens is to rid ourselves of it as quickly as possible. There are many ways to do this and some offer a less healthy approach like indulging in too much food. But did you know that studies show an increase in levels of happiness with regular exercise? Maybe that’s why roller skating puts a smile on all of our faces! Take a look at the science behind what physical activity does to our happiness!

• Short Term Happiness – Studies have shown that just 20 minutes of exercise and physical activity can boost ones mood for up to 12 hours after.
• Endorphins – When we head to the gym (or better yet, head to the rink) and get some activity in, our feel-good brain chemicals (endorphins) are increased.
• Turn that Frown Upside Down – Most of us are more prone to workout when we are in a better mood. But if we exercise while we’re feeling a little blue, the effects on our mental state are the most powerful.
• Destress – Exercise is a wonderful way to decompress and calm the nerves. Many people gravitate toward unhealthy habits, such as over-eating, to cope, but exercise is much healthier and more effective tool for managing stress, anxiety and depression.

Need a little happiness in your life? Make your way down to Wheels Skating Center in Odenton, MD and skate your way to a happier you! Check out our hours!

The state of our heart’s health is can be directly linked to our overall health, that’s why it’s imperative we keep it healthy. Inactivity is one of the major risk factors for heart disease, and one of the best ways to improve upon heart health is to exercise. But physical fitness is one of those things that isn’t always easy to follow through with. It’s important to find an activity you enjoy to make it easier to stay with it. This is where roller skating comes in for a lot of people. Roller skating is a fun activity that is great for getting that heart rate up. Find out what the roller rink can do for your health, and check out Wheels Skating Center in Odenton, MD for your next roller skating adventure.

• Reduce Cholesterol Levels
• Reduce Inflammation in Arteries
• Reduce Fat Levels
• Help Weight Loss

The American Heart Association recommends that individuals perform moderately-intense exercise for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week. So if we need to exercise that often, it may as well be something we enjoy. Roller skating is an exercise that enthusiasts don’t even see as work. It’s just fun! If this blog has you curious, plan your next visit and take a look at our hours.

Did you know that roller skating is equivalent to running and jogging in terms of its health benefits and reduction of body fat? That’s right! In fact, you can expect to burn between 300 and 600 calories during a full hour of roller skating depending on your pace. See, fun things aren’t ALWAYS bad for you! At Wheels Skating Center, located in Odenton, MD, we think that roller skating is one of the funnest paths toward a thinner waist line around. See why you should check out roller skating as a great weight loss method!

Why Weight Loss With Roller Skating is the Best!

• Fun – The American Heart Association recommends that we perform 150 minutes of moderate exercise every week to experience results. The much time with an exercise you dread can seem like an eternity, so switch it out for something you like, such as roller skating!
• Not Alone – It isn’t always easy to find someone to join you on your quest to be healthier. That’s what makes roller skating so great! There will always be someone to share the rink floor with you. Chances are, you will find someone with the same goals you have, and you can motivate one another.
• Inexpensive – Joining a gym, in many cases, can be a hefty financial burden for many people. Not roller skating! Visiting our rink is a really inexpensive way to get your exercise in.

Keep up with us! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus for more roller skating news and updates!

Nothing can ruin playing in a sporting event or being active like a few aches and pains, and if you do it often enough it’s almost inevitable. And as much as we would like it, roller skating is not excluded from this. Other than a bump or bruise from a fall, one of the most common roller skating pains stems from the feet. Blisters. If you skate long enough and frequently enough, blisters will most likely happen to you too. A bad enough blister can really ruin an otherwise great skate session, so how do we avoid them? Wheels Skating Center, located in Odenton, MD,  wants every skate session to be an enjoyable one, so here are our tips on how to keep your feet blister-free.

• Properly Fitting Skates – This should be your first line of defense against pesky blisters forming. Blisters happen when there is too much friction between your foot and the inside of the skate. Be sure that when you rent or buy a pair of skates that they fit your foot well.
• Toe Pushing – This is another huge contributor to blisters from roller skating. Many people when they skate tend to be “toe pushers.” Instead of pushing off with your toe while skating, push off with your whole foot to mitigate the heel moving up and down.
• Double Up – If you feel that these dreaded blisters are unavoidable, double up on your socks and give you feet and extra layer of protection.

We wish you all happy skating! Keep up with more roller skating tips and rink news on our social media pages. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus.

Can your skates make it through another year? A good pair of roller-skates can last for years, but if you let them fall into disrepair, you might find yourself needing a new pair. Get a fresh start this year with these skate maintenance tips (and learn how to know if it’s time to replace your skates).

Do Your Skates Need Replacing?

Do your skates need a little TLC, or is it better to start fresh? Ask yourself these questions:

• Are these skates too small? Pass them down to your next child and buy a new pair of skates.
• Are the wheels or bearings rusted? Time for something new.
• Are the boots cracked or warped? Head to the Pro Shop.
• Is the liner broken down? Look into replacing the sole insert or buying a new boot.

Roller-Skate Maintenance

If your skates are still in good shape, we want to help them reach a healthy old age. Follow these skate maintenance tips from Wheels.

• Store your skate in a dry location that’s around room temperature
• Wipe down skates if they become wet
• Check to make sure your skate trucks are secure
• Adjust the toe stop for optimal braking
• Make sure the bearings are loose and lubricated for a smooth rolling skate
• Clean your wheels periodically to remove dirt build up
• Replace skates that are pocked or dented from outdoor use

If your wheels, toe stop, or bearings become worn, don’t worry. You can replace a single component without buying a new pair of skates (unless you want to, of course!).

Ready to roll? Visit Wheels skating center for Odenton family entertainment in the New Year!