Written By: Tania Tarafdar | Published : September 19, 2014 6:41 PM IST
While more and more people are starting to join gyms in an effort to stay fit and get in shape, you can get a great workout at home using your skipping rope. It is a challenging and fun exercise that engages your entire body with emphasis on your leg muscles.
Benefits
It elevates your heart rate which is great for your cardiovascular system but also can help you burn around 800-1000 calories in just an hour! It is also a great workout for upper and lower body parts. It will help you strengthen your calves, arms, shoulders and even abs. Like running and jumping, even jump ropes primarily target the muscles in your legs making them stronger. Being a weight bearing exercise, skipping ropes is beneficial for your bones. By improving the bone density, it helps to keep osteoporosis at bay.
Types of skipping ropes
Cloth skipping ropes: They are made of cotton or nylon cords which are braided. The cloth jump ropes can be good for beginners as they are lightweight. However, they also have many drawbacks. They don't rotate very well and create a lot of drag. They also get easily deformed when they hit an uneven surface. While not skipping, it's best to hang the rope to prevent it from getting tangled.
Beaded skipping ropes: The beads increase the weight of the rope adding to the workout. One advantage of beaded ropes is that it prevents the rope from tangling. These ropes are tough and good for harsh surfaces where other ropes might wear down easily.
Weighted skipping ropes: A weighted skipping rope uses weighted handles. The idea behind the additional weight is that it increases the intensity of the workout and works very well on the your upper body. A weighted rope provides benefits such as agility and endurance. They also help burn a significant amount of calories and can be effective for increasing strength and promoting weight loss.
Image source: Getty Images
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