By Kathleen Connelly
As a parent and a health professional, I love to see the schools in Fishers promote activity. My two oldest children attend Hoosier Road Elementary and the past couple of years I have been delighted to see them support the American Heart Association’s Jump Rope for Heart Program. It is a program that raises money to help fight against heart disease and supports services offered by the American Heart Association. Recently, the forms came home with my kids and they are excited to participate again.
This got me thinking about my clients and new ways for them to get active. Do you remember spending hours jumping rope on the playground as a kid? I do! As adults, jump roping can provide an intense cardiovascular workout. Regular jump roping can improve dynamic balance, coordination, reflexes, bone density and muscular endurance. It also can help increase mental alertness and memory as well has improve spacial awareness and reading skills. The Jump Rope Institute states that 10 minutes of continual jump roping at 120 RPMs can provide the same benefits as 30 minutes of jogging, 720 yards of swimming and 18 holes of golf. That’s amazing! A simple childhood activity that we can do right on our own driveway or sidewalk can provide so much good for our health!
Another bonus is it’s an activity that the whole family can do. If you have little ones that can’t jump rope yet, they can play outside or sit in a stroller while you jump rope for 5-10 minutes. If your kids are a little older, make it a family affair and add in a couple days of jump roping during the summer. A new jump rope for each family member is a great way to start the spring season.
Here’s a fun fact, did you know Indianapolis has a jump rope organization? They are called the Indy Air Bears and their website is www.indyairbears.homestead.com. The team is made up of children ranging from 2 years old through college. The team provides entertainment for local and national events, competes and provides jump rope clinics for varies youth groups/schools around the country. Just like me, they believe jump roping is a great way to exercise and have lots of fun!
Kathleen M. Connelly is a certified Personal Trainer and Health Coach through American Council on Exercise. For health and Fitness Consulting for individuals or corporations, contact Kathleen at [email protected].
