When we think about jump rope, memories of childhood typically come to mind; The sweet nostalgia of jumping with our peers in the playground or in the front porches of our own homes. It’s also widely utilized in the boxing realm for conditioning and coordination.
With the many well-rounded benefits that it provides, skipping makes a tremendous fitness tool— not just for children or boxers— but for any individual looking to improve their overall well-being. Simple put, it’s underrated. Here are the reasons why.
#1: It Helps Your Body In So Many Ways
Let’s start off with the obvious and clear physical benefits of jumping rope. Jump rope serves as a primary tool for cardiovascular health. A research study found that 10 minutes of daily jumping rope was found to be equivalent to 30 minutes of daily running for cardiovascular fitness. Other studies have also shown reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases as a result of regular skipping.
Jumping rope is an impact training (this is explained to be the controlled movement of your knees and ankles when landing on the balls of your feet), which essentially results in higher bone density, reduces the risk of injuries, and places less strain on your joints.
Skipping involves an integration of muscles throughout our body to work together; The entire body is benefited as a result of this. You’re able to gain muscle, tone up, as well as improve your endurance and agility. And this isn’t only for athletes. A study conducted on autistic children revealed impressive improvements in their balance and coordination after taking part in a jump rope program.
#2: Beneficial For The Brain And Mental Wellness
It’s quite fascinating to see the neurological effects that can occur as a result of physical exercise. In the same way that our bodies are fully engaged in skipping as a high-intensity exercise, our mind is also alert and active. If we were to look at what happens inside the brain, we would see a number of fascinating changes occurring: due to the increased oxygen intake, your brain cells are being renourished, a cascade of positive chemicals are released, and new growth connections between neurons are being made.
Jumping rope is a mentally challenging activity that requires you to be present and focus on the movement of the rope with the coordination of your whole body (otherwise, you’ll end up tripping or whipping yourself!) Regular engagement of the mind in such a manner can result in improvements in executive functioning, memory, problem solving, learning, and attention.
Skipping is also known to stimulate higher levels of serotonin, commonly known as the ‘feel-good hormone.’ Lower levels of serotonin are associated with depression, anxiety, and mood imbalances. Regular jumping rope can also influence positive changes in dopamine and norepinephrine.
#3: Time-Efficiency And Portability
As a busy student, myself, I love the time-efficiency that skipping brings into my regular routine. It serves as a great HIIT workout (high-intensity interval training). And so, even in the days where I’m able to only fit in 10 minutes of a jump rope session, I’m still able to get a good workout out of it
Another way that makes skipping so practical is its portability. This is perfect for anyone who likes having a change in scenery, because you’re able to skip practically everywhere! (Gyms, your backyard, a park, your living rooms— even iconic travel spots!).
#4: Warm And Supportive Community
The jump rope community is easily one of the most supportive communities I’ve come across. It’s relatively small, yet a gradually growing group of athletes and non-athletes alike solidified in improving together and learning from each other. The online presence of jump ropers has continued to especially grow at the height of the pandemic (early 2020), and it has been solidifying since then. This movement is made up of enthusiastic and friendly individuals throughout the world— each with their different upbringings, cultures, and lifestyles— who share the same love for skipping and essentially improving one’s own well-being.
#5: It Conditions You In A Holistic Manner
Jump rope is clearly one of the best conditioning fitness tools out there, but it also conditions you holistically. In the same way that your body is being physically conditioned, your cognition, mental, and emotional well-being is put to a test.
Skipping is not only a fun activity, but it’s a discipline in and of itself. It teaches you to push yourself outside your boundaries as you maintain a consistent routine, learn new skills, and engage in drills. You learn that it’s never prudent to compare yourself to others, and instead, to celebrate every small win of your own. And you also learn to never forget the bigger picture- to look after your well-being, to enjoy and trust the process, and to find purpose behind every work, activity, or craft that you engage in. This discipline and perspective can be applied not only to jumping rope, but into any area of our lives.