As children, skipping was the thing to do. In those days, it was a good way to have fun and stay active during recess or lunch. Today we’re older but we’ve decided to replace skipping with what we think of as more effective forms of exercise. Big, BIG mistake! The benefits of skipping rope are completely underestimated – a skipping rope should be your go-to weapon in your exercise routine.
It’s portable, light and utterly inexpensive – we know that. We know that there are different types, colours and sizes. All are great advantages. But more important are the benefits of skipping.
Jumping rope is a great workout for the whole body. It allows you to combine a cardio workout with strength training of your hamstrings, shoulders, arms, and calves. In a sense, you strengthen your heart while toning your muscles.
Skipping rope is an effective way of developing balance and overall body coordination. It will also result in a boost in hand-eye coordination and over sense of body control. Jumping rope is also a good weight-bearing activity. This is great for preventing osteoperosis as you develop bone mass by placing stress on your bones.
Lastly, the most promising benefit of skipping rope is its positive effect on weight loss. Research has shown that one hour of skipping at a solid pace can help you burn roughly 1000 calories. You may not be in the mood for skipping rope for a whole hour but this still results in about 20 calories burned per minute!
Circuit training is a great place to incorporate your new love for skipping. It’s a quick way to boost your heart rate within the circuit. Combine skipping with sprinting workouts for optimal resuls. Skipping is also a great tool for inverval training. Alternating between periods of light and intense skipping has proven to be very effective for boosting your metabolism.
