The Benefits Of Skipping (Jump Rope) For Fitness

Image and video credit Buddy Lee

Skipping (also called jump rope - American term) is an essential part of the V1 FITNESS training programme. It's certainly not going to be easy if you are unfit or over weight. And sadly many people never really learnt as children, or the last time they tried it was in high school, or primary school! But anyone can learn and anyone can do it!

We have a excellent track record of taking on new clients for cardio kickboxing and on the first day when we hand them the skipping rope, they barely reach 30 jumps in one minute. Then over the course of a few months, the one's who take their training seriously always reach 130 to 180 clear jumps in one minute.

Skipping is an incredible cardio workout, burns more calories than running and only requires a short workout time to achieve incredible fitness and weight loss results. It's also one of the cheapest fitness workouts you could ever get into. All that's required is a good quality skipping rope and a small area in your home, or preferably outdoors. Do avoid skipping on concrete, or it will take its toll on your knees and ankles. Wood floors are ideal, or grass outdoors. Check out some of the children's play areas that Limassol municipality has been creating in almost ever area of the twon, these have safety rubber floors and are always empty during week days. It's aways more beneficial to workout in the fresh air too.

Main points when starting out.

• Start with the rope behind you and keep your knees bent slightly
• Make sure you keep your jumps very small in height, most will over reach with huge jumps and collapse in exhaustion because of this. The rope is less than 10mm thick, you only need to clear this. No need to jump for the moon.
• Make sure you warm up and don't under estimate the difficulty of this exercise. Go in with all guns blazing with huge jumps and no proper warm up and you will get injured.

To find out more about alternative fitness beyond boring gym machines and classes, contact V1 FITNESS Cyprus personal training.