Thought about changing up or starting a new exercise regime? Skipping could be the answer!! There are many benefits to good old-fashioned skipping.
One of the biggest skipping benefits is that it’s a total-body workout, incorporating your arms and shoulders as much as it does your legs. It also gives poor posture a helping hand by encouraging you to pull your shoulders back and out of the hunched posture. Also, in one study, women who jumped on the spot three times a week for six months increased their lower-body bone density, getting the jump on osteoporosis in the process.
Skipping for weight loss is also a common reason people pick up the rope, with skipping burning almost 200-300 calories (based on half an hour of skipping a day).
If you are new to skipping or it’s been a while since you’ve tried, here are some handy tips:
- Get the rope the right length! This is crucial and will make a big impact to your skipping ability Standing with both feet on the rope, the rope should come up to your armpits when pulled straight
- Stay low to the ground, knees soft, and stay light on your feet to minimise impact
- Your arms should be at a 45-degree angle and pulled into your ribs
- Rotate from your wrists rather than your shoulders
- Keep your core engaged throughout.
As with all new exercise routines, build up slowly to avoid injuries. If you are a beginner, you could start with 1-5 minutes of skipping, 1-3 times a week.
Once you get the hang of it, you could try some fancy footwork, including double-unders where the rope passes under your feet twice with one jump! Tricky!
How about setting yourself a skipping challenge today?
If pain and discomfort prevent you from enjoying life, Book Online or call 01590 679560 for appointments with chiropractors Colin, Charlotte or Fiona, or massage therapist Hannah. For acupuncture appointments, call Amanda directly on 07876 343 821. And for podiatry appointments call Paul directly on 07857 137732.