Benefits of Skipping
Skipping or jump rope as it is called in some parts of the world is, in my opinion, simply the single most beneficial and all encompassing sport or form of exercise! It can be performed practically anywhere and practised alone or as a group activity. Other benefits of skipping are that it can also be incorporated into everyone’s lifestyle as a discipline in its own right or included into training to bring performance benefits to any other sport. It can be used as a gentle warm up or low level activity or performed as a high intensity exercise. Oh, and it is simply great fun!
1) The Physical Benefits of Skipping
It works! Skipping;
- burns up to 900 calories per hour, making it extremely efficient when used as a workout.
- strengthens and develops muscles, tendons and ligaments. Skipping will strengthen your very bones!
- will help improve cardio-respiratory (heart and lungs) fitness (or stamina), flexibility, co-ordination, balance, rhythm and symmetry.
2) The Emotional Health Benefits of Skipping
Set yourself short, medium and long term goals with skipping and then achieve them. You can skip to music, add new skills, develop and grow and benefit from the documented mental health benefits from regular exercise.
3) Brain Development
A high level of coordination and cross-lateral ambidexterity is developed when skipping regularly – both sides of the brain, both sides of the body. Also with all the fantastic skipping tricks available, there is always something new to learn, stimulating your brain to ever higher degrees.
4) Easy to Learn
People of all fitness levels and athletic abilities can start skipping in a very short time. Learning the basic skipping techniques can be taken at your own pace in a relaxed and comfortable environment. But the learning curve is exponential and you will soon be finding your rhythm and skipping the basic moves like a professional. Time to take on more challenges.
5) Cheap as Chips
Skipping ropes are inexpensive. The skip-hop skipping rope is all you will ever need and at £7.99 for adults and £5.99 for children it will not break the bank.
6) Portable
Nothing could be simpler than a skipping rope. Carry a skipping rope in a suitcase, briefcase, backpack, handbag, bumbag (you get the point) or glove box and take it everywhere with you – providing the most effective portable exercise in existence. The perfect exercise for travellers.
7) Adaptable
Use your skip-hop skipping rope for training for many other sports. Flexibility, reaction times, bursts of speed, jump height, coordination and stamina are just some of the proven improvements that skipping has brought to many professional athletes across a huge range of sporting disciplines.
8) Fun
“Nobody Can be Uncheered with a Skipping Rope”
Skipping is great fun and can easily become an addiction! Once you grasp the basic techniques and the natural rhythm and stylish, economic movements of skipping give a great feeling. Skipping brings out a child-like delight in everyone, leaving a smile on your face even though you are getting the benefits of a fantastic form of exercise. Perform skipping tricks for individuals and group activities like long rope games and double dutch skipping…..well, I think I have covered the fun aspect.
9) Versatile
Great for all ages and abilities, you can build both self-esteem and fitness levels. Every age group can experience the pleasure derived from skipping on an individual level or enjoyed as a group activity with contributors of differing abilities and fitness levels. Adjust pace and complexity to suit.
10) Sociable
Even with the current social distancing – connect with others through skipping. Children can introduce skipping to their schools or club and compete using the skip-hop virtual-skipping-league. Join a local skipping club or form your own. Adults can take part at local gyms in skipping workouts, become part of a global community of skippers, competing, learning and exchanging information together. Take a look at some of the skip-hop skipping videos for some inspiration. Lastly, sign up to our skipping newsletter or follow us on facebook and join the skip-hop online skipping community.
