About the fit life: Having fun and staying healthy with skipping

Are childhood memories ever complete without the numerous games we played when we were young? Skipping was always a fun sport for us, little did we know that it’s actually one of the best ways to keep fit and stay healthy.

When coming up with a workout routine, either a basic or intense one, always include skipping because not only is it known to burn around 1300 calories/hour (burns more calories than running), it is also one of the best cardio workouts, gives a full body workout, it is very cheap and is not subject to factors like gym, an instructor, or even the weather.

Skipping ropes are inexpensive and you can even do a makeshift one with any sturdy rope you can find (we did lots of improvisations growing up!)

How to start skipping

• Make sure the rope length is perfect for your height, you don’t want a rope that’s either too short or, too long, you can adjust it accordingly.
• Hold the handles at each end of the rope, one handle in each hand, by your sides.
• Step in the middle of the rope, swing the rope and jump up as soon as the rope is about to touch the ground. Avoid getting tangled or your leg getting caught in the rope. Continue swinging and jumping up until it becomes seamless.
• You can count the number of reps that you do to keep track. It is advisable to start small and then gradually increase your speed/length of time.

Things to note

• Get a good quality and strong rope so it doesn’t break while you’re swinging or when it hits the ground

• You can either skip barefooted or with shoes on, most experts suggest barefooted because it makes your feet strong and helps to cure many foot-related problems. If however, you feel pain when you try barefoot skipping, wear trainers or good sports shoes to absorb the shock of your feet meeting the ground repeatedly.

• Avoid skipping on carpeted, stone or asphalt surface. Shock-absorbing surfaces, like wooden floors or other smooth surfaces, are the best for skipping as they prevent tripping or rubbing, which can lead to injuries.

• Always skip in open places so that the rope doesn’t get stuck on any object close by. Also, make sure it is a place where the fan is very high in the ceiling or has no fan at all.