The benefits of skipping for busy mums

Skipping – one of those things I did everyday in the playground at school and something that my daughter has also done since starting school, carrying a skipping rope in her bag most days and even being entered for a school skipping display last year.

Skipping however is way more than a playground activity. It can be a wonderful way to keep fit.

skipping

  • It is one of the best cardio and HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) workouts
  • Jumping rope, as it is also known as,  can burn around 1300 calories/hour – now that’s really high! So it’s a good fat melter
  • Skipping exercises burns more calories in comparison to running
  • Skipping helps in muscle toning as it is basically a bodyweight exercise – especially if you use a weighted skipping rope
  • It improves footwork, balance, coordination, and agility
  • It is one of the best  exercises for endurance training and conditioning
  • Skipping gives a full-body workout. It is especially great for toning and developing thighs, shins and calf muscles. Simultaneously, it also works on abs and arms
  • It engages and improves the hip-flexor muscles
  • Studies show that skipping exercises put lesser pressure and is less shocking for the joints than running. It is a low impact exercise than running and therefore a better option.
  • It improves cardiovascular health as it improves the heart beat rate. It is beneficial for blood pressure patients
  • Skipping can be done by anybody and everybody, from beginners to advanced level.
  • It is also known to help in improving bone density.
  • All the equipment that the skipping exercise requires is a jumping rope, which can fit into your purse or handbags and is travel-friendly. So, you won’t have to miss your workout, all you need is a rope and an open area to burn calories.

I started skipping recently as a way of increasing my cardiovascular activity. I remember my dad telling me how he used to skip for fitness years ago.

Aside from the health benefits, skiing is ideal for busy mums because:

  • It is cheap
  • You don’t need much space
  • You can do it with the children as a form of play
  • You can do it on your own in the evening when the children are in bed – find a space and take the baby monitor with you
  • It doesn’t take up much time in your day
  • You can put it down easily if one of the children wakes and resume when the house is settled again
  • You can easily challenge yourself by aiming for more skips each day

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Do you skip or would you consider this as a form of exercise?

8 comments

  1. Given me an idea of something I can do in the garden as need to tone up for holiday. Have just started doing 10 minutes of Hula Hoop a day 🙂

  2. I once lost a stone just from skipping. I just tried to increase the number each day.

  3. What a great idea; I’m going to get on eBay straight away! I hate exercising so I’m up for anything fun that can help me get fitter. Thanks!

  4. Guess what I found in my cupboard -a skipping rope with a digital counter on it
    Didn’t realise how much fun I was missing
    Thanks for the reminder

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