HEALTH
April 14, 2012 | By Jeannine Stein, Special to the Los Angeles Times
You don't need a gym or pricey fitness machines to get a great workout. Here Jackie Warner (www.jackiewarner.com), star of Bravo's fitness reality show "Work Out," and author of the new book "10 Pounds in 10 Days," demonstrates a close-to-wide squat. All you need is a flat surface and some way to demark a circle. A jump rope works just fine. Why you should do it: "It really focuses on the glute - that's the butt - big time," Warner says. What to do: Place the jump rope in a circle around you. Stand within the circle, hands clasped together at chest level, squat down to sitting position, then jump up. Land with your legs now outside of the circle, lowering into a squat again.
BUSINESS
February 14, 2012 | By Deborah Netburn
The Valentine's Day Google Doodle is pure sweetness. A one-minute animation, drawn with childlike innocence, it depicts a little boy trying to figure out what to get for his heart's desire - a little girl who jumps rope. He buys her flowers, and chocolates (via Google, of course), but she pays no attention. He tries clothes, and balloons, a pie and a television, a top hat, an old-fashioned submarine helmet, and still she continues to jump rope, oblivious to his overtures. As a last-ditch effort he walks over to her with his own jump rope clutched in his hands and starts to jump rope alongside her. And then -- she stops jumping.
HEALTH
December 12, 2011 | By Karen Ravn, Special to the Los Angeles Times
It's still two weeks to Christmas, and there are those among us who have already finished their holiday shopping. Admirable people. Enviable people. But suppose, just suppose, you're not one of them. Right about now, you might be in dire need of some cool stuff for the stockings on your list. Well, fear not. Piece of cake. (And not some dry, tasteless piece of fruit cake either.) You can find something for everyone at your neighborhood drugstore - something not just inexpensive but healthful to boot.
HEALTH
June 29, 2009 | Jay Blahnik
Someone told me that jumping rope is the best cardio exercise you can do -- and that it burns more calories than even running. I started jumping rope, but could do it only for a few minutes before I had to stop. Can you give me any suggestions for doing it more effectively, and for building my stamina so I can do it for a longer period of time? Amy Venice Beach Jumping rope is an outstanding cardiovascular activity and, because it's portable, can be done almost anywhere.
HEALTH
October 29, 2007
I enjoyed the article about the varieties of jump-ropes available ["Gear: Have Jump-Rope, Will Travel," Oct. 22]. Our local jump-rope team, the Palpitating Panthers, has traveled to the AAU Junior Olympic Games and the USAJRF Nationals for Jump Rope competitions. It has been in existence for 17 years. Based in La Canada, we currently have 16 team members ranging in age from 7 to 16. Jumping rope is indeed an amazing way to keep fit. Our team works hard to increase speed and power.
HEALTH
October 22, 2007 | Roy M. Wallack
Go on vacation and come back in better shape than when you left? It happened to me last year when I went to northern Spain -- with a jump-rope. Packing more luggage-friendly fitness-per-ounce than any other exercise, skipping rope obliterates calories, rocks your heart rate and does wonders for your agility, posture, balance, reflexes and upper-to-lower body coordination.