Skipping

Exercise 1.

I was bemoaning the fact that due to self isolation I wasn’t taking any exercise and missing the enjoyment of long walks; and that’s when my son Daniel handed me a skipping rope from his Keep Fit equipment bag. I laughed at the idea. (It was a kind and thoughtful offer but, I haven’t skipped since I was in the school playground—a bit of a long time ago, I can tell you!)
But, to please him I had a go.

I have a go with the skipping rope

Taking hold of the plastic handles (my old skipping rope at school was a deluxe wooden handled affair that had built-in hi-tech ball bearings to aid ease of swing), I raise my arms, take a breath and swing the plastic rope backwards (my old skipping rope’s rope was rope), swinging it upwards behind me and it gets caught around my neck! Disentangling myself I have another go swinging the rope with gusto. Avoiding my neck this time the rope swings up to above my head and arcs around to the front of my face.
Now, this is where skill and precision timing comes in—meticulous judgment of the right moment to leap. The swing of the rope is approaching down to the zone of my agile feet. I draw on all my courage and…wait for it…I jump! Yay! I had done it! I could’ve skipped with joy! (Is that a pun?)

The years fall away and I am a kid again! And I am back skipping once more on the hard playground tarmac playing with my friends, reciting old skipping rhymes and competing to see how many skips we could do before tripping up.

But, back in the sitting room I have only managed a mere couple of laboured and desperate skipping hops, and can’t believe how puffed and entangled I am! (Don’t mention the ornament breakages). I have performed two unhampered turns before stumbling and collapsing in a heap.
Where was the schoolgirl playground champion from so long ago?
Ah well never mind, I shall give it another try soon, no doubt about it. Apparently, the health benefits are worth the exertion—despite the threat to pets, ceramic and glass possessions within the skipping rope’s radius!

7 Advantages for having a bit of a skip indoors

1. Makes heart muscles stronger—gets your blood pumping and helps prevent cardio problems
2. Increases bones strength—all that jumping raises your levels of calcium
3. Improves brain power (I really must keep skipping!)—increases blood flow to your cerebrum thinking faculty (wow!)
4. Builds body core strength—good for keeping your balance, and building those abdominals and tightening of tummy muscles (I certainly need all of that!)
5. Coordination—improves both hand and eye coordination as well as working on your nifty footwork
6. Good for singing or reciting rhymes—which also helps to keep up the rhythm
7. Helps eliminate unnecessary decorative objects in a cluttered environment

Skipping Rhymes

Why not make the exercise more fun and recite a traditional playground skipping rhyme while you skip?

My Mother Said

My Mother said
I never should
Play with gypsies in the wood
She would say
Naughty girl
To disobey

Traditional school playground skipping rhyme

Miss Suzie

Miss Suzie had a steamboat
The steamboat had a bell
Miss Suzie went to heaven
The steamboat went to
Hello
operator
Please give me number nine
If you disconnect me
I’ll kick you from
Behind
the refrigerator
There was a piece of glass
Miss Suzie sat upon it and cut her little
Ask
me no questions
Tell me no more lies
The boys are in the bathroom zipping up their
Flies
are in the meadow
The bees are in the park
Miss Suzie and her boyfriend are kissing in the
Dark
is like a movie
A movie’s like a show
A show is like a TV screen
And that is all I know

Traditional skipping rhyme

Final word of advice when skipping indoors

A word of caution. Please ensure all breakable items, pets and anything who or what might be within range of the swinging rope be removed or told to get out of the way!

Rewards

You can expect to feel fitter and more energised in no time. Skipping exercise is good for you.
Skipping exercise? Yes, I’ll do that! Lol.
When your exercise routine finally comes to an end—reward yourself with a well deserved treat. Mine’s a Gin & Tonic! You can have your skipping rope back now Daniel.

Keeping Fit & Healthy

During the Covid19 pandemic lock down it is important we can find ways to keep ourselves mentally and physically healthy while confined indoors.

Stay safe, stay fit, skip indoors!