I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve heard skaters within our community — and further afield — describe the experience of roller skating as a form of healing, a stress reliever, and literally how it “saved them.”

Honestly, I’ve heard many different skaters say that skating saved their life. They usually go on to describe a backdrop full of troubled times: depression, huge life changes, breakups, divorce and the like.

But my question is this: for those of us who feel compelled to skate regularly, is it a bona fide form of stress relief — or really just another form of escape? Like, are we really just avoiding a bunch of deeper feelings that could use more of our time and attention?

Stress Relief

There’s no doubt about it. I’m pretty sure most skaters in the scene would agree that skating delivers a huge amount of stress relief. We lace up and get busy finding flow to our favourite songs. The music combined with street skating, or jamming on our skates among like-minded people can feel pretty intoxicating at times. It’s like festival vibes on any given day of the week — I mean, what's not to like?

We lose ourselves in the music and get fully immersed into the moment. That in itself is a reset — one that can shift us away from the hard edges of our lives in an instant. And in these troubled times, there’s certainly a good number of us who'd opt to escape from the global mess, let alone any additional personal challenges that life inevitably slaps into our laps!

I’ve definitely experienced exactly this kind of reset on many occassions. It’s like, you forget all about the heaviness of life and get transported into the skill, drill or thrill of the moment — it's not at all difficult to become fully present as our attention doubles down. It's a level of presence that we don't always create time for. It is, essentially, a moment of moving meditation. Your body takes over, your mental chatter quiets, and for a good minute, the heaviness drops away as we enjoy the good feeling.

Or, Escapism at Its Finest

There are times when I know for sure that I’m using my skate sessions to avoid or lessen the feeling of this or that. Often I don’t notice it until after the fact— it could be weeks or months down the line. Then, I look back and realise I’ve been so busy skating and riding the highs that I haven’t been still enough, or present enough to process what I’ve been feeling fully. It's avoidance at its finest!

I’ve had a few big moments when this has hit home. When it does, I’ve had to eventually slow down — sometimes even take a break for a few days — just to settle my mind and body, to just sit with whatever needs processing and regulate myself on a deeper level. And, it’s not until I’ve held that bit of still space that I feel I've turned a page, and can hop back onto my eights feeling fully charged and ready to go. Everything flows better, and I’m not having to push myself quite as hard.

So, the question is: if we don’t take the time to slow right down or stop when these big moments arise, what happens? Do we become hindered by the skating? More avoidant and less aware? Maybe even more likely to fall or injure ourselves because we’re a bit [emotionally] off balance? I’m pretty sure that if we if don't listen to the cues to slow things down in those times, we eventually pay a price!

I imagine we can all move between the two scenarios at different times in our skating journey. The difference often comes down to a willingness to ask ourselves the big questions, and make space to tune in to our deeper awareness. Uktimately, we decide for ouselves whether skating serves as medicine and mask.

Hormonal Benefits to Wellbeing

And what about the hormonal surges that help carry us through when we exercise and socialise. Skating isn’t just psychological — it’s biochemical. Our bodies are literally dosing us up with natural compounds that shape how we feel.

Serotonin:
Often called the “mood stabiliser,” serotonin helps regulate mood, sleep and overall emotional balance. Rhythmic movement, exposure to daylight during those outdoor sessions, and the satisfaction of mastering new skills can all support our serotonin production. This is partly why a good skate sesh can leave us feeling calmer and more level long after all is said and done.

Dopamine:
Dopamine is tied to motivation, reward and pleasure. Getting to grips with a new sequence, enjoying a smooth flow to music that sweets us, or just squeezing a much wanted skate session into our busy week can give our brain a dopamine hit. It reinforces the desire to return, to practise, to improve and go further down that rabbit hole. In healthy doses, this builds confidence and momentum in other areas of our lives too.

Endorphins:
These are our body’s natural painkillers and mood elevators. Sustained physical activity releases endorphins that can produce that familiar post-skate glow — aka a “runner’s high.” They help reduce stress and anxiety, soften physical discomfort, and create a sense of lightness that many of us skaters will recognise.

Adrenaline and cortisol:
Short bursts of adrenaline sharpen focus and energise the body, especially during more busy or fast sessions like a group street skate [which no doubt helps us with that sense of presence]. Cortisol, the primary stress hormone, also rises during exercise — but regular physical activity helps regulate our baseline stress response over time. In other words, skating trains the nervous system to handle pressure more efficiently.

Oxytocin:
Often referred to as the “bonding hormone,” oxytocin is released through positive social interaction. Group skates, shared appreciation for a playlists, encouragement from friends and that unspoken sense of community all contribute to feelings of real connection. For many skaters, being inspired by others and just being a part of the social fabric is just as nourishing as the skating itself.

Together, these chemical shifts create a powerful cocktail that can genuinely support mental wellbeing in big ways. It’s not imaginary. There’s real physiology behind that feeling of being uplifted.

Healing? It Depends

So can skating offer us a sense of healing or not? I guess the honest answer is: it depends.

If we balance our skae sessions with rest, recuperation and a good dose of self-awareness, we’re more likely to maximise its benefits. Skating can be a tool for processing emotion, building resilience and reconnecting with good feelings. But when we go overboard, suppress, completely avoid or disconnect from difficult feelings, issues can eventually creep in.

Maybe the sweet spot is learning when to roll out and when to chill. When to hit up yet another skate party and when to not be moved by the fomo! In that balance, skating becomes less about escape and more about integration — a way of moving through life rather than away from it.

In the end, it’s for you to decide what a healthy balance looks like. Our stresses, our skating and our inner lives are all in conversation with each other. The trick is staying honest enough to listen.

Kelly

Cranial Osteopath | Wellbeing Coach | Roller Skate Instructor

Skate Base London

🗯️ Is roller skating a stress reliver or one giant avoidance tactic  — be honest? Tell us in the comments below or, leave us a lil emoji response.