Curling can be under appreciated by those who don’t understand it. However, for those of us who regularly participate in curling, it’s easy to list reasons why we love the sport. Here are some reasons why anyone can learn to love curling.

1. Curling can be enjoyed by just about anyone. Curling is a sport that can be enjoyed by men and women at any age. While it involves a certain level of physical fitness, one doesn’t have to be an extreme athlete to play. It’s even possible for someone in a wheelchair to participate in curling.

2. Curling is inexpensive. Compared to many other sports like golf or skiing, curling is relatively inexpensive to do. You don’t need lots of expensive equipment and a curling club membership typically costs between $300 to $600 a year. Even gym memberships aren’t that cheap these days.

3. Curlers come from all walks of life. Curling is one of the few sports that has such a diverse grassroots base. From farmers to businessmen, people from all walks of life participate in curling all over Canada. You won’t find any pretentious elitism in this sport.

4. Curling has health benefits. Those who know nothing about curling assume that it doesn’t take much physical fitness to play. In fact, one can get a great cardiovascular workout through curling, whether throwing a rock or sweeping those of one’s teammates.

5. Curling is included in the Olympics. Curling has been part of the Winter Olympics since 1998, which introduced the sport to many people around the world for the first time. However, it was actually part of the Winter Olympics in 1924 and 1932 as well for demonstration purposes.

6. Curling is social. Like any team sport, curling involves a great deal of camaraderie between the four members of a curling team, as well as the teams they compete against. Joining a curling club in your local community allows you to meet people from all walks of life and socialize with them before and after games.

7. Curling is one of Canada’s most popular sports. There are over 1,000 curling clubs all across Canada, and it has been estimated that over 750,000 Canadians participate in the sport at least once a year. With so many clubs, there’s almost always one close enough to join.

8. Curling requires precision. Rather than speed or power, curling is a sport that requires great skill and precision above all else. It has been nicknamed as “chess on ice” for the amount of strategy involved in winning a game. This is one of the reasons it is so popular among both players and spectators.

9. Curling is safe. Any injury caused by curling is certain to be a minor one. Slipping on the ice or tripping over a stone is nothing compared to tumbling down a ski hill or crashing a bobsled.

10. Curling is easy to learn and understand. Scoring in curling is simply based on points, not something subjective like technique or style. It is straightforward and easy to learn, which is why it’s possible to join at any age and can be enjoyed by everyone.

This article was written by Nathan Henley. He is a sports psychologist who specializes in performance improvement and injury rehabilitation. He also owns the site Sports Psychology Degree for students interested in getting a degree in sports psychology. Videos provided by The Canadian Curling Association

By Health Fitness Revolution –

April 17, 2015

Every four years, when the winter Olympics come around, the world is exposed to a sport that not many people see very often. Its uniqueness has drawn the curiosity of many and often sparks an interest in a desire to try the sport. And the health benefits are good for the whole body. Here are the Top 10 Health Benefits of Curling:

1 Aerobic fitness: Working out in the cold can burn more calories, and since curling is played on ice and players are constantly competing and running back and forth trying to hit a goal, it will definitely increase your heart rate and improve the cardiovascular system.

2 Strengthens your muscles: Sliding on the ice and being in a constant squatting position strengthens the calves, glutes and quadriceps. You can also get a good core workout by practicing curling and sweeping vigorously ahead of the stone.

3 Social interaction: In many communities, curling clubs are among only a few recreational resources available. It becomes a place where they can talk with others, build friendships, and take leadership roles, increasing both their confidence and resiliency when coping with challenges.

4 Flexibility: The team member who delivers the stone in a curling game often stays very low to the ice before pushing the stone. Staying this low to the ice requires a great deal of flexibility.

5 Speed: Like any other sport, curling on ice also requires you to train to be faster. Players slide around the rink before a game to increase their speed.

6 Precision: Curling requires precision. It has been nicknamed as “chess on ice” for the amount of strategy involved in winning a game. This is one of the reasons it is so popular among both players and spectators.

7 Stretching and toning legs: Stretching and toning your legs is a way the players workout before playing the game. The stretching and toning not only helps with flexibility for the game but it also carries out in day-to-day activities.

8 Promotes weight-loss: Sliding on ice burns a lot of calories, yet because you are playing on ice, you don’t perspire as much. Curling requires a lot of skating back and forth, which burns calories.

9 It can be done by anyone, including the disabled: Curling is a sport that can be enjoyed by everyone, no matter the age or ability. In fact, the Paralympic Games feature a Wheelchair Curling event.

10 Fun and interactive: It is a sport for both men and women and is played by both adults and kids of all ages. Not only is it a great way to meet people who have the same interest in curling, but it can be a great networking medium. In addition, many people with depression turn towards curling because it’s a fun and interactive sport that opens up their social realm.