February2005

Heart TO Heart

by Jim Parker

This month's theme for our newsletter is 'Put Your Heart Into It'. So, with that as our focus, let's talk. This fist sized intricate and efficient pump moves approximately five liters of blood per minute in the average-sized person to 42 liters per minute in a well-trained athlete! And if a relatively healthy individual has a heart rate of 72 bpm, but a fit athlete can have as low as 60 bpm, just think of the 'heart rate savings' over a life time! Would you like an analogy? Compare the condition and operation of a car with 1000 km. vs. one with 100,000 kms.! How's that for one good reason to do lots of cardiovascular-aerobic exercise?

Do you know where and how to find your heart rate or 'pulse'? There are a lot of places on the body, but a few of them are on the underside of the wrist, or on the neck by your windpipe. Try gently taking your pulse for a minute and see what you get. Now picture getting aerobically fit and lowering the number of beats, even when you are skating hard!

Think of the things that raise your heart rate, some even before you start skating. Nervousness, exercise, lack of conditioning and on top of that, women have a slightly higher heart rate then men and younger people have higher rates than people who are older. Now if you can do things to reduce the effects of 'heart rate raisers', doesn't it make sense to do so? Sports psychology can help with controlling nervous energy. But exercise-wise, aerobic activities done regularly will help the heart become stronger, fitter, more efficient and more able to withstand stress. You will also remember that aerobic exercise will help reduce body fat and strengthen muscles. You can: stroke, roller blade, cycle, run, walk, cross-country ski, rope skip, skate board and swim your way to 'heart fitness'. These exercises require medium, long-time effort using most of the big muscles of the body. They aren't sprint activities like baseball, squash, sprinting and downhill skiing. Granted, these last activities do use and train the heart, but they do so in a different way, using different fuels. It is important to remember that although figure skating is very similar exercise-wise to sports such as squash and racquetball, in that they use 'bursts' of power, today we are only discussing how to make the heart more 'efficient'.

Try doing some of these exercises every other day at medium effort for 25-60 minutes and I know, I know, I know, you are VERY busy! Try it, okay? It's for your heart.

GI Gym’s Fit Tip

The lower your RESTING heart rate is, the more aerobically fit you are.

Looking for a good pair of used skates or do you have skates you’d like to sell? Send us an email with all the details and we will post it on our SKATE EXCHANGE page on our web site. For more information, check out our home page at www.dresswright.com

Dress for Success Many of you are still in search of that perfect dress to compliment your program or dance for tests and competitions. It’s a challenging time because a lot of the manufacturers are busy producing product for their new lines that don’t come out till the spring. But we are expecting a few new selections from Rebel, and Quad Club about the middle of February! We’re also looking forward to introducing a new line of limited edition skating dresses from a new company called “Diamond”. So watch our website for more updates.

Diamonds are a girl’s best friends – but rhinestones are the next best thing, and at an affordable price point! Check out these sparkling gems – great for Valentine gifts or to dazzle up your presentation on the ice!

Low Calorie Valentine gifts If chocolates are not on your Valentine list, maybe this lovely collection of gift cards, snap shot albums or picture frames are just the ticket! Or don’t forget to take a look at our great selection of Skating Jewelry, especially our “Skate Angel”. But, nothing says “I Love You” better than…. Stinkeez!! Helps “de-feet” smelly skate odours in 3 wonderful scents – cinnamon, vanilla and peppermint!

Skate Care Tip – DO NOT leave your skates in the car in this cold weather! Not only will they be really cold to put on at the rink, the freezing temperatures are not good for the leather and components that your skates are made from. Be sure to bring your skate bag inside, open it up and open up the tongue of the boots so that air can circulate inside your skates. Just as hard on your skates, would be leaving your skates over a heat vent. So remember – regular temperatures and good circulation!

Good Luck, Skate Hard - 'til next time!

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February 2005 Edition