Best class to improve skating strength and flexibility?

[hopskipjump]

ballet?
Pilates?
plyometrics?
track?
gymnastics?
acro dance?
contemporary dance?
modern dance?
breakdancing?
aerials?
crossfit?
bootcamp?
Yoga?
Other?

[AgnesNitt]

ballet?
Pilates?
plyometrics?
track?
gymnastics?
acro dance?
contemporary dance?
modern dance?
breakdancing?
aerials?
crossfit?
bootcamp?
Other?

Plyometrics is more about jumping, isn't it? So probably not that.

You left out yoga.

[hopskipjump]

Added yoga! 

[nicklaszlo]

For your goals, I would avoid track. 

Most of the other classes will have some component of flexibility or strength.  Is there a stretch class?  Is there there a weights class?  Can you do the exercises on your own?

[Willowway]

I think that quite a few of these could be the "best" depending one's specific goals. Strength and flexibility, as far as I have been able to achieve (limited on the flexibility and much better in the strength department) may be best addressed by different disciplines. I do a combo of Pilates and weights once a week with a trainer (have for 10 years) and the increase over time in my overall strength level (including core) is remarkable.

In almost the same period of time one of my grown sons has taken up yoga, particularly Bikram yoga, and his flexibility at 34 is quantum leaps above what it was even when he was in his teens. So it depends what you're looking for. I am now adding some flexibility work to my weekly schedule but it certainly can't be achieved by the Pilates which has made me stronger than most people my age. So I'll do enough Pilates and weight work to maintain my strength level and put in some yoga (but I don't think Bikram - I couldn't handle that).

If you had to pick just one as opposed to cross-training then I think ballet is probably closest to perfect in that you have to develop core strength, flexibility, grace and balance to be any good.  Ballet will not really address cardio and endurance and that comes into play if you are competing with challenging programs.

[nataxa]

For me its yoga and specifically Bikram hot yoga. Very good for stretching, flexibility and endurance.

[TreSk8sAZ]

Probably come combination of Pilates, Yoga, Ballet and weightlifting. Not bulk weights, but more toning and refined weights. Also Plyometrics if you are talking about strength for jumps. But there are so many cross-training things you can do as well that work different areas than skating, like swimming or running. Depends on exactly what you are trying to improve (like, lower back flexibility? Overall flexibility? Core strength? Leg strength? Etc).

[hopskipjump]

She needs to be stretchier - she lost a lot of stretch this summer.  She can't so full splits (center, left or right) anymore, her layback is stiff looking and her spiral isn't much higher than hip high.  Just the normal stuff that goes away when you don't do it regularly.  Core strength too.

I wasn't meaning specific to her though - lets say any skater has an hour class a week they want to take - what would make the most sense

[AgnesNitt]

Why not get a couple of stretching DVDs, there's probably some that break it into 10 minute segments, or get a routine from a coach and put it to music w/ cuing on her ipod. The only way to keep it is to exercise it.

[hopskipjump]

because she is a kid and stretching in the living room is fine while watching tv, but it's more fun with a teacher and friends.

[PinkLaces]

Does your rink or club offer any off ice classes? We have several - off ice jumps, cardio conditioning, and yoga for skaters. When I did the yoga class this summer, not only would we stretch but did some core work, too. I would still do the yoga class but it meets when I am on the ice.

[alejeather]

Why not get a couple of stretching DVDs, there's probably some that break it into 10 minute segments, or get a routine from a coach and put it to music w/ cuing on her ipod. The only way to keep it is to exercise it.

Agnes, did you do a blog post about stretching resources? Can you link to it? I might be interested in a DVD. Though I will agree with hopskipjump, a class is more fun, a DVD is more economical!

[jjane45]

Agnes, did you do a blog post about stretching resources? Can you link to it? I might be interested in a DVD. Though I will agree with hopskipjump, a class is more fun, a DVD is more economical!

I hope she does not mind, wonderful blog

http://icedoesntcare.blogspot.com/2012/04/stretching-dvds.html

http://icedoesntcare.blogspot.com/2012/03/off-ice-fitness-dvds.html

[AgnesNitt]

I hope she does not mind, wonderful blog

http://icedoesntcare.blogspot.com/2012/04/stretching-dvds.html

http://icedoesntcare.blogspot.com/2012/03/off-ice-fitness-dvds.html

Thank you jjane. I've been in internet blackout today. Though I have to comment that the DVDs I mention are for adults. A child would probably not find them challenging. Doesn't sk8strong have some? I've just never used them.

[AgnesNitt]

Also, myskatingcoach.com has an "Active Flexibilty Warmup" demonstration video, its only a few minutes long but it shows  some warmup exercises for kid skaters. I can't do the second exercise demonstrated to save my life, but all the others seem to be good for adults too.

It's not a video you do like a DVD, it just demonstrates the exercises.