Jump Rope is one of the most effective overall body workouts for any age level. It provides a great workout, can be done from anywhere and is a lot of fun.
Why is it then that many people rely on more traditional forms of cardio, like running and biking, and often overlook jumping rope as an alternative?
It may be that they are just not informed of the multitude of benefits jumping has, particularly with those over the age of 40.
BURNS MAJOR CALORIES
Did you know jumping rope burns more calories than biking, swimming and even running? Jumping rope can burn up to 700 calories per hour. As we age, hormonal fluctuations and other factors tend to cause our metabolism to slow down. Jumping rope is a great way to kick-start your digestive system and get your body to burn more calories throughout the course of the day. There is not better way to trim down and get lean!
DEVELOPS OVERALL BODY STRENGTH
Unlike most forms of cardio, jumping rope not only gets your heart pumping, but it also helps develop muscle strength in your upper body, particularly your shoulders, back and arms. As we age, we lose muscle. Jumping rope can help give your muscles back that youthful fullness you’ve been wanting.
IMPROVES MENTAL CLARITY
Because jumping rope requires hand-eye coordination, it puts both sides of your brain to work. This is one of the main reasons, jumping rope is so popular with boxers. As we get older, we tend to lose focus and often experience feelings of being overwhelmed. Jumping rope helps to train our brain into focusing on the present and helps us see things more clearly in all aspects of our day-to-day lives.
IMPROVES CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH
Jumping rope is highly recommended for aerobic conditioning. In order to increase your heart and lung health it is recommended you jump three to five times per week for 12 to 20 minutes at a time.
REDUCES BELLY FAT
Anyone over the age of 40 knows that we slowly start to see fat re-distributing in areas we would prefer it to stay away from. We often hear the phrase “meno pot” which is an awful name for women who are menopausal and start to see the fat shifting to their abdomen, giving them an egg shape. Men experience the same, just often distributed in the form of “love handles” Jumping rope is an excellent remedy to avoiding this phenomenon and retaining your more youthful waistline.
IMPROVES MOOD
One of the best benefits of jumping is it’s ability to release natural endorphins that allow us to feel our best. The feeling can be similar to what we know as a “runner’s high”. Through the release of these endorphins, our libido, and often sex drive increase, two areas the aging body can need a little push in.
PUTS MINIMAL STRAIN ON YOUR JOINTS
Contrary to running, jump rope training is a low-impact activity. This means that there is minimal strain on your joints when jumping rope, allowing you to get through a complete workout without unnecessary pain. This means that jumping rope is a perfect sport for those looking for a low impact exercise that still packs all the power of a more vigorous routine.