16 Dec Getting a Great Cardio Workout with Nothing but a Jump Rope

If you are looking to get a great cardio workout, but you have an extremely limited budget, you might want to look into getting a simple jump rope.  Although it is still best to use a machine such as an elliptical trainer or a treadmill in order to stave off boredom and to get a more complete workout, a jump rope can be a good option until your budget expands.  In fact, using a jump rope for your at home workout offers a number of benefits. 

The Benefits of Working Out With a Jump Rope

There are numerous benefits associated with using a jump rope as a workout tool.  These include:

• · Improving your coordination
• · Increasing your endurance
• · Enhancing your agility
• · Increasing your speed
• · Burin calories quickly

For this reason, many athletes choose to include jump rope in their workout routines.

Getting the Most from Your Jump Rope Routine

In order to get the most benefit from your jump rope routine, there are several things you should keep in mind.  First, be certain to purchase a quality jump rope, which should still cost less than $10 to purchase.  In addition, be sure to follow the proper procedure when jumping rope.  This includes:

• · Perform your jump roping on a shock absorbent surface in order to reduce the amount of strain and stress on your bones and joints
• · Wear good shoes such as cross-trainers and tennis shoes
• · Make sure to jump on the balls of your feet and to get about one to two inches off the ground
• · Turn the rope with your wrists and forearms while keeping your elbows close to your sides
• · Keep your feet together

When you first get started, you should only perform a single jump, which involves jumping only once each time you turn the rope. You can then increase your workout and work on increasing your speed by performing full-speed intervals, which involves spinning the rope as quickly as possible for one full minute and taking 20 to 30 second breaks in between.