Some Off Ice Exercise ideas to share
1. My coach has been emphasizing postural aspects, in which I should be holding a somewhat backwards arched upright back, with one leg lifted halfway (45 degrees) between sideways and back, for many seconds, while skating, and the other knee bent. Of course, other skating posture things, like rear end in a sitting position, rather than sticking out, and proper knee alignment, are needed too.
She says this isn't just an ice dance pose, that it is expected in freestyle as well, while holding edges. I am much stronger with the leg straight back than at this angle. For that reason, my leg tends to want to go too far to the back, both in held poses, and on
jumps. It also feels a bit out of balance. I need to strengthen myself in this pose.
2. I visited my mom. She goes to "balance classes". Although this particular series of classes were intended for people in their 70's through 90's, they used some good ideas. In particular,
A. They use stretch bands anchored against chairs. You can do things like
leg lifts with resistance. You can also pull inwards with your leg against the band, balancing your muscles. Maybe good for power pulls, so you can use pulling as well as pushing strength.
Maybe stretch bands would also be useful, anchored under a foot, for strengthening the body in deep knee bend exercises. I can do deep knee bends on two legs, but have been unable to cross the strength threshold to doing it well on one. Leg press machines
don't seem to help much - I think the posture is different from what I need for skating. But maybe extra resistance from a stretch band is what I need.
Stretch bands are also a lot cheaper than exercise machines and weights, don't take up much space, and are portable. So you don't have to go to the gym.
B. They did balance moves with their eyes closed. Wow! What a difference, and what a great idea! I guess it helps you to train your inner sense of balance. I never realized
how much I rely on my eyes for balance. They also rest their hands on the chair, then try to balance with the hand off the chair.