Roping Revival

Image via AnnaliseArt of Pixabay

​Haven’t spent as much time as I’d hoped with my rope this summer. On the bright side, it’s a brand new week, and I’ll get at least a few sessions in before it’s over.

This is a revised post from the flashFit blog, that I’m merging into the PRPulse. It just makes it easier (for both you and me) to have the posts in one place.

If you’re a regular here, you’ll notice the digs are looking familiar again. That’d be because I’ve decided to switch back to Weebly, for the time bein’ due to Blogger not being able to quickly accommodate all of the more essential bells and whistles needed to work efficiently.​​

​All platforms have their drawbacks and Blogger ended up having some that were so time consuming that they ultimately became a deal-breaker. For now, most of the Virtual Buskers Guild members that have been blogging with Weebly, will remain with Weebly.

Meanwhile, in moving forward with streamlining flashPress into easy-to-find content, recent and past, I’ve been working to consolidate the posts here into one blog. WarnerWords and marcoujor’s musings are also in process of this, to keep things fresh and simplified.

We’re hoping you’ll enjoy the transition and find the results to be comfy. All blog sites should be comfy. It makes for a much more enjoyable reading experience.

And so, here’s a fun and timely post that’s been brought over from flashFit for your enjoyment. You’ll find it extra special if you’ve ever been a fan of roping.

​Roping: People, not livestock

​​Roping can be just as much fun as it was when you were a kid. Harder, too, but still loads of fun. 

These days, thanks to boxers, dancers, gymnasts and others in the athletic and fitness fields, rope jumping has even developed into a complex, competitive art form. In my own workouts, I pretty much stick to the basics, but I enjoy watching other ropers who’ve taken it to the next level and manage some amazing and inspiring jump routines. 

For now, I stick to basics. They’re more than enough to make for a fun and effective cardio workout.  One of the great aspects of roping is, you can feel the good effects of it immediately. There’s no waiting for a couple weeks to feel more limber in the extremities and tighter in the core.

So much out of so little

​Roping is one of the most inexpensive sports you can get into. It can be done from nearly anywhere, indoors or outside. I love walking and jogging, too, but if you live in areas with inclement weather, it can produce interruptions.

It doesn’t take up much space, and the only equipment you’ll need are some comfy, sturdy shoes and a rope. Ropes are available in several varieties to purchase, or you can make your own.

​​My preference is a segmented rope. If I jump and miss, it doesn’t hurt if it smacks me on the back of my legs or ankles. The beads are sturdy and can take a lot of hard surface abuse without breaking, which protects the rope they cover, allowing it to last a longggg time.

Image via AS Phillips

​I have two ropes, but this is the one I use most often. It was in my Christmas stocking a couple years ago. It’s one of the best and most useful stocking-stuffers I’ve ever gotten. Made by Gold’s Gym, it cost less than $10 USD.

I don’t have to wear gloves with this rope. The soft-spongy grips make it easy to hang onto, even when jumping in wet weather. They clean up easily with soap and water. The bead sections have taken some serious abuse, swinging against rough, hard surfaces, but they continue to hold up well, keeping the interior cord protected. I also like the weight of it. Just right for some good cadence.

Image via AS Phillips

​Rope length

​Since my rope isn’t adjustable, I just tied some knots in it to make it short enough to be comfortable. The knots are easy to untie, so if I have a friend who wants to jump with it, and they don’t match me in height, I can quickly re-adjust the length.

There are inexpensive ropes available that are made to be adjustable, but I’m good with mine as is.

​Break it down

Roping can be done in sets of whatever number of jumps best suit your physical ability.

If you're having an off day physically, but still feeling up to getting in at least a short workout, you can adjust your workout to consist of small sets of jumps that won't overtax you.

If you're on point health-wise and feeling good, you can do larger sets and increase the number of sets as well as jumps.  Or, you can adjust them to fit your need however you like--that might be doing a walk-jump through your neighborhood. Roping is great at adjustability, accommodating both what you want and what you need.

Where to jump

​You can jump wherever you’ve got a firm, non-slip surface. Semi-soft surfaces, such as dirt, work great and help reduce the impact on your joints.

​Some of my friends prefer to jump in their gravel parking areas. It’s not my fav surface for roping but it works well for them. It’s great that the basics can be tweaked to personal preferences.

Image via AS Phillips

Roping on the go

​If you travel, jump ropes take up nearly no space. I’d not try packing one in my onboard luggage, but otherwise they’re pretty easy to stow and take with you nearly anywhere.

Because roping continues to gain ground in popularity, it's not an uncommon sight to come across ropers in parks, independent fitness centers and those housed in hotels. 

Honest, bein' a roper is quite cool, even if you're a beginner.

Don't be intimidated by thinking you've got less than a flawless routine. You're far more likely to encourage others to give it a try who might have been lacking in confidence before spotting you in a workout.

Image via AS Phillips

​​Caution and good sense

​​If you’ve got DJD (degenerative joint disease) or have trouble with knees and hips that impact aggravates then this is probably an activity/sport you should probably avoid. But, it’s actually possible to do rope “walking” instead of jumping, or even low-impact styles of rope jumping.

Even if you’re not into roping, I’m pretty sure you’ll enjoy and be inspired by the vid below.

I follow both of these jumpers on Instagram, as well as following BeyondSlowMotion on YouTube. The links to follow and/or subscribe to the videographer’s channel and the champion ropers, you can find them in the description below the vid on YouTube. Please give it a ?if you enjoy it. BeyondSlowMotion is a pro-vlogging member of the indie biz community.

The vid features Nick Woodard and Kaylee Couvillion, a married couple who are world champion athletes specializing in roping. You can visit their website by clicking here.

​​I’ve seen the vid several times and still love watching it when I’m needing a determination boost. I hope you enjoyed it as well and if you’ve got any rope stories or suggestions to share leave a comment and thanks for your input ahead of time.

Are you a roper, or maybe interested in becoming a roper? Maybe you know someone who ropes that's inspired you to at least consider some sort of fitness-fun that's suitable for your ability. I'd love to read your input in the comments!

​​Thanks for joining me today and don't forget, jump ropes make awesome gifts!

Blessings and hope to have you back next week,

​Shalom