J is for Jump Rope

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

14 Jul 2007 06:28 AM

The jump rope is a great piece of fitness equipment. First and foremost, the jump rope is inexpensive and you can pick one up at a Target or Wal-Mart for under $10. Jumping rope is something you can do with your kids and it's a great way to get a power workout in fifteen minutes or a less.

Try jumping rope 10 minutes a day and you'll notice a profound change in your overall fitness. Jumping rope gets your heart rate up faster than just about any other cardiovascular workout outside of running. Many athletes use the jump rope in between their weight training sessions because it does elevate the heart rate and it gets your blood pumping.

It is important to recognize before you start jumping rope regularly that you need to take it in stages. Jumping rope can be hard on the knees (so be sure to check with your physician beforehand). It's also important to recognize that 10 minutes is a LONG time when you are performing an activity you are not used to doing. So while ten minutes a day may not seem like a lot - after the first three minutes of jumping rope, your lungs will be burning and your heart will be racing and you will be ready for a break.

Be sure to get a good, supportive pair of shoes - you want to support your shins and your ankles with good shock absorption in your shoes. Be sure you are standing on even ground when you are jumping rope as well, because if you are on an incline, there is a great chance that you will slip and fall.

Finally, one last piece of advice --- don't forget to stretch out properly before and after whether you are jumping rope for three minutes or ten minutes. Your body will thank you.

Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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