IT may make you think back to your childhood, but skipping is actually a great weight-loss tool. This high-intensity workout has helped boxers the world over to improve their coordination, endurance and balance. And it has lots of benefits outside the ring.
‘The great thing about skipping is that you can do it anywhere, anytime,’ says Cape Town-based fitness coach Kelly Chandrapaul. As a qualified fitness instructor and dance teacher, Kelly often recommends skipping to her clients and students to help them with their balance, coordination and stamina. If you’ve been sedentary for a while, approach with caution, she warns. ‘Work up to it with a low-impact cardio exercise like walking or light jogging.’
BEFORE YOU JUMP IN
‘The first thing you need is, of course, a skipping rope,’ Kelly says. So what should you look for? ‘The basic plastic (PVC) rope you’ll find at most shops works fine, but there are also weighted skipping ropes and speed skipping ropes for advanced skippers.’
To see if a skipping rope is long enough for you, step on the midpoint of the rope with one foot while holding the handles in each hand and pull it taught. You should be able to tuck your hands under your armpits. If the rope is too long, you can always adjust the handles to shorten the length. Kelly says the best rope length is your height plus 90cm.
Then you need to invest in the right shoes. ‘If you don’t have enough support around your ankles, you could injure yourself,’ Kelly says. ‘Try to find a pair that is good for running and fitness, as those will offer the right support.’
この記事は Lose It! の Volume 43 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
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この記事は Lose It! の Volume 43 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン