Learning To Ski Could Be The Best Gift You Ever Give Yourself

If you've ever toyed with the idea of learning to ski, you are not alone. Every winter, millions of people gaze wistfully out their windows at the falling snow, dreaming about what it would be like to glide across the snow or to fly down alpine slopes.

It's time to stop dreaming and start doing. Skiing is one of the most refreshing, healthy, and exhilarating sports known to mankind. Rather than live with regrets for not learning, take action this winter and get some lessons. Winter will never be the same. Here are some great benefits you'll enjoy when you learn how to ski:

• Skiing allows you to enjoy the winter. Some people have a desperate aversion to all things cold. Apart from ice cubes in their beverages, they shun anything below freezing. If you have a penchant for palm trees and tropical temps, you have obviously never been introduced to skiing. Avid skiers have learned to embrace winter for what it's worth -- a virtual playground waiting to be enjoyed. Learn to ski, and you'll stoke up a fresh love for winter.

• Skiing affords you breathtaking experiences immersed in the beauty of nature. You'll be able to experience nature in ways you'd never believe. Skiing allows you to break away from the confines of walls and windows, and become immersed in the awe-inspiring vistas and raw beauty of the slopes. Gliding down the slopes in alpine country, listening to the muted hush of your skis on the snow gives you an experience that has to be experienced to understand.

• Skiing is amazing exercise. If dazzling winter scenery and awesome winters aren't enough motivation for you, there's another huge benefit of skiing: Your health. When you learn to ski, your body will love you - as soon as you get over the "good pain" of a workout that makes a positive difference in your body, which all skiers experience after going onto the slopes the first time each season. Skiing is a full body exercise that targets muscles you didn't know you had, as well as the large body muscles that needing toning. One drawback to winter is all the rich food from Thanksgiving and Christmas and skiing helps you to keep from gaining extra weight. Some intense skiers burn up to 1,000 calories per hour! Another benefit of skiing is the cardio workout you'll get out on the slopes. You'll experience a greater degree of flexibility, stability, and balance as you adjust to the precision sport of skiing.

The only way to truly benefit from skiing is to experience it instead of reading about it. Once you hit the slopes and experience the rush of excitement that comes from skiing, you'll understand. When you do that, you'll be eternally grateful that you listened when someone said learning to ski is worth the effort.