Yes, I bought myself a skipping rope to start jumping to spice up my workout routine. Something I used to do quite a lot as a child, but why not now, as long as you can? I was pleasantly surprised I could still do this without tripping over my rope or feet and the rope skipping routine is coming back more and more!

What's the best rope?
First I did some research online to know an OK rope and got myself one with good feedback and that's medium priced, Eur20.
How to use the rope?
Make sure the rope is the right length for you. You can check this by standing on the middle of the rope and when it ends under your armpits, it should be an OK fit. It's smart to buy a rope that is adjustable to your height if needed. Then do a little warm up/stretching, I like to use yoga sun salutations as a warm up, but please do what works best for you. Then slowly start jumping... Don't jump too high, it's more like hopping and make sure to turn the rope from your wrists.
How to start jumping?
. Beginner: 5-10 rounds; 30 seconds on, 30 seconds off; single unders (one rope rotation per jump)
. Intermediate: 5-10 rounds; 1 minute on, 30 seconds off; single unders
. Advanced: 5-10 rounds; 30 seconds on, 30 seconds off; double unders (two rope rotations per jump)
Instead of using a timer, you can also count, like I did 6x10=60 jumps, which makes about a minute to start. Then to make the work out somewhat more interesting, I did for example 3-5 push-ups (or another body weight exercise) and after that a little break to catch my breath and do 5-10 rounds.
Another way I like is first do a 5 minutes warm up and then just do rope skipping until 20 minutes, including 3-5 push ups per round and little breaks in between.
It's all trial and error and finding your own rhythm and pace. When you're getting better at skipping rope, you can try other jumps like double unders etc. I know I am not there (yet).

Skipping rope benefits
1. Skipping rope is a great cardio workout.
2. Skipping for weight loss is a common reason people pick up the rope, with skipping burning almost 200-300 calories (based on half an hour of skipping a day).
3. Skipping is a great full body workout, using your ab muscles to stabilise the body, legs for jumping and shoulders and arms for turning the rope.
4. Because skipping involves so many parts of your body, the exercise could improve coordination, stamina and focus.
5. Skipping can be a great option if you need a lower-impact workout, causing less jolting on your joints than running.
6. If that expensive gym membership is draining your bank balance, skipping could be a great alternative workout for you. Once you've bought your rope, skipping is a zero-cost exercise you can do anywhere.
7. Bored of your usual cardio routine? Skipping is "an incredible alternative to traditional cardio on machines such as the treadmill.
8. Skipping can improve your mental health by releasing endorphins, feel-good chemicals that can boost low moods.
9. Skipping helps to improve heart rate and blood pressure.
10. Jumping rope is an accessible workout for many fitness lovers, as you can control the pace you work at and how long you skip for.
11. Forget separate leg and upper body days, a regular skipping session improves muscle tone in both the lower and upper body.
12. Skipping isn't just an exercise for the here and now. Jumping or plyometric (jump training) work are amazing bone-building exercises, so you're less likely to break bones or develop osteoporosis as you get older.
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