Jumping Rope It's Not Just For Kids

I remember how much I loved to jump rope as a kid, I always strived to do double-dutch but did not get very good at it, and regardless jump roping was still incredibly fun. I recently rediscovered the jump rope ago. My kids had learned a few years ago how to jump rope and after practicing over and over again at home and at school got much better. When they were first learning how to jump rope I was not really interested in joining in but that would change. They were challenging each other to do different things and then asked if I knew how to jump rope (I love how my kids ask me things like that and how surprise they look when I know how to do something as if it is the strangest thing they have ever seen). So I took their jump rope which was really too small for me but showed them a few moves. Of course after hearing my kids’ excitement my hubby had to join in too just to show us his skills. So what started as a simple session of showing off for the kids came into a new workout routine for me. I get bored with doing the same routine daily and always look to do different things to get me going and to get a good workout. Of course it took me a while to build up to really work out with the jump rope. But the more I practiced with my kids the more I did on my own. Eventually even finding my own jump rope that was hidden away in storage of course it was in good shape because it had not been used in years if ever (I am notorious as are most for buying things and having them sit around until I rediscover them). When I started it was not so easy, I started off slow with just 100 jumps a day for about a week then I slowly increased my jumping to 5 minutes and kept increasing when I felt comfortable. I really like jumping rope because you can do it easy or hard, fast or slow, long or short, there are so many variations of jumping rope you can create your own personal routine. The more I jumped the more I wanted to learn about the benefits I knew that boxers did it for conditioning and footwork but was there something more I was missing? Jumping rope seemed so easy but was it beneficial? What I found out is that there are so many reasons why jumping rope is a good choice when it comes to exercise:

FUN – Jumping rope can be very fun. It is a workout that is adjustable to any skill set and age. Jump slow or fast, simple or fancy; jumping rope is completely individualized. Have fun with it, turn on the music, and watch a show while you jump. I find it fun jumping with my kids because the time flies by (but be careful not to run into each other).

EASY TO LEARN – Jumping rope is very easy to learn it does take slight coordination but once a person figures out how to jump over the rope the rest is easy. Remember you will trip over the rope several times and it will take some time to get multiple turns of the rope until you are used to it. But it’s really a quick skill to pick up.

EFFECTIVE – Jumping rope is extremely effective as a workout. Not as hard on your knees as running. Jumping rope can be adjusted to any skill level and can get your heart rate up quickly. Starting with walking in place first can help you to warm up and can be done at the end of your routine as a cool down. Jumping rope really works out the arms and legs.

INEXPENSIVE – The cost of a good starter jump rope is between $10 and $20. Although the first jump rope I used was made from rope I found in my garage and I wrapped duct tape around the tips to make handles that worked great until I found my own jump rope hiding in storage. It is also important to make sure that you have a good pair shoes and a soft place to jump; carpet or mat.

PORTABLE – A jump rope is easy to carry, extremely light weight and can fit just about anywhere. My kids always have at least one in their backpack at all times just in case they get the jump rope bug. You can jump rope just about anywhere however it is best to jump rope on a carpeted or soft area if possible.

GREAT FOR ALL AGES AND SKILL LEVEL – Any age and skill level can jump rope because you can jump slow or fast and adjust to your age and skill. Whether you are jumping for fun or exercise you can build your own routine according to your age and skill level.

VERSATILE – There are so many different variations of jump roping; you can skip rope, run with the rope, jump fast, jump slow and the list goes on and on.

GREAT WORKOUT - You can get a great workout in 15 minutes with a jump rope, it is best to jump rope 3 – 4 times a week for 15 – 20 minutes. Jumping rope concentrates on working out the arms and the legs. For the best workout use a good pair of cross-training shoes and a shock-absorbent mat since jumping rope can be incredibly high-impact. Jumping rope at a moderate intensity for about 30 minutes can burn up to 250 calories.

Of course one should always check with their doctor before starting any physical exercise and that is especially true for jump roping.

So find your inner child or live the boxers dream; grab that jump rope and get to jumping!!