Benefits of Skipping Rope
Back in our younger days, jumping rope was a popular activity. Back then, it was a great way to spend a recess or lunch break and it was a great way to expel some energy. 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! It’s taken me a long time to realize the benefits of skipping rope and today it’s one the top weapons in my fitness arsenal.
We already understand skipping ropes are light and portable – indeed it’s a fact. We know they come in different colours and weights. These are all great advantages. But more important are the health benefits of jumping rope.
Skipping rope is a full-body workout. It allows you to combine a cardio workout with strength training of your hamstrings, shoulders, arms, and calves. You are simultaneously strengthening your heart and defining your muscles.
What jumping rope can do is help you develop better balance and overall coordination of your body. It will also result in a boost in hand-eye coordination and over sense of body control. The activity of skipping is also a fabulous weight bearing activity. It places stress on your bones which helps develop bone mass – great for preventing osteoperosis.
Lastly, the most well-known benefit of skipping rope is its potential as a incredible calorie-burning vehicle. Research has shown that one hour of skipping at a solid pace can help you burn roughly 1000 calories. Even though you may not be jumping rope for a full hour, understand that this still comes out to roughly TWENTY calories PER MINUTE!
Circuit training is a great place to incorporate your new love for skipping. It’s a great method of spiking your heart rate throughout your circuit. Adding a skipping session to your sprint training is also a great way to get incredible results. Another great place to utilize skipping is with interval training. Alternating between periods of light and intense skipping has proven to be very effective for boosting your metabolism.
This entry was posted on Saturday, January 29th, 2011 at 4:48 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.