Why Skip?

Skipping is a great exercise and something that everyone can do in their spare time.  Skipping is also the ideal sport for everyone, regardless of age and is enjoyed by all. 

As well as being fun skipping rope is a fun and efficient way of losing weight.  Skipping is also an excellent exercise for improving cardiovascular fitness and is medium impact. 

You will find that skipping is a great way to exercise whether as part of your warm-up or included in your main exercise session.  In no time at all you will see that a few minutes of skipping training creates lots of fitness benefits. 

The Benefits:

Skipping can be used for several reasons in respect to your fitness.  For example, it can help with endurance training or to develop your speed in short bursts.  It is also an excellent exercise to help you train your coordination and to develop a sense of rhythm. 

Skipping is excellent because it is a cheap, medium impact exercise and extremely effective for improving your cardiovascular fitness. 

Skipping will help improve cardio-respiratory (heart and lungs) fitness, flexibility and co-ordination and can help reduce the risk of heart disease, lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

It's also an excellent way for you to lose weight or tone up.

Equipment

A good place to find a quality skipping rope is at a boxing/martial arts shop.  However, most good sports shops should have what you will need.  I would recommend a good quality leather skipping rope which will have a good weight to it and will be fast at travelling through the air.

Always make sure, as well, that you have the right length skipping rope for your height.

The Basics of Skipping

Always make sure that you skip whilst wearing properly fitting trainers as this will help to support your feet, ankles and also your knees.

Ensure that you keep your elbows tucked in and do not lean forward.

Try to skip quickly but keep your movements to a minimum.  You want to keep the rope tight.

Alternate jumping from one foot to the other whilst skipping the rope.  Do not jump the rope with both feet together.  Try to be light on your feet and land softly with each foot.

At first it is a good idea to try to skip for at least a minute and then take a 3 minute rest.

It's also a good idea to skip with music playing which will help you to keep going.

Get Started Today!

Skipping is great exercise for burning fat because it incorporates your whole body in the exercise.    

It is also a cheap exercise that doesn't require expensive or complicated equipment to get started.   You can also do it inside and out – provided you have the room and it's an enjoyable way to burn fat for all ages.

If you start skipping I am sure that it will not be too long before you too will be seeing the benefits and will be glad that you have started this popular training method.