Who ever thought that a piece of rope could become a tool for health and wellness? Kids, obviously. Just observe a bunch playing in a public park and chances are, there's bound to be a group of kids jumping rope, whether singly or in groups of three or four with two holding the rope at both ends and one or two skipping on it.

But adults have finally taken a cue and have turned to jump rope workouts as a form of cardio exercise. In fact, it is so effective that it has long been made a part of a boxer's conditioning program. Whether you're jumping rope as a regular aerobic exercise to keep fit or doing it to burn fat, there's no denying that it's a fun and easy workout that can be done anywhere anytime.

If you haven't jumped rope before, which is rather next to impossible unless you grew up in Mars, or have perhaps forgotten how, remember to jump only about 2 inches off floor. This is all the elevation you need for the rope to slip under your feet. When done with both feet, this can be a very high-impact exercise and you don't want to add any more impact by increasing your jump. Unlike our grade school jump rope techniques that included a wide circling of the arms and shoulders, jump rope routines for fitness necessitates that the movement comes with a flick of the wrist. Thus, your elbows must always be kept close to your sides throughout the routine. Also, it's important to remember that you must never come to an abrupt stop in your workout because you feel tired. When that happens, you can let go of the rope while still jumping or jogging in place. Gradually work up to finishing the entire workout. In picking the right jump rope for you, ensure that the handles don't go past your armpits when it is stretched from the floor with you standing on its center.

You want your jump rope routine to go slow and steady as you build up to the most intense level gradually. As soon as your body gets used to the exercise, you can add some speed. A sample exercise that can get you started in your rope regimen is to jump steadily for 30 seconds and rest for 15, alternating this all throughout your session which could typically run for 15 to 30 minutes depending on your fitness level. As you progress in your workout, increase your intensity by jumping for 40 seconds and cooling down for 15. You can go on in the same manner, increasing the length of time you're actually jumping with your rest period remaining at 15 seconds. Your ultimate aim is to jump the whole 15 to 30 minutes with little or no rest. This allows you to gain the most benefit from your jump rope routine. However, don't go past your comfort zone if you're not feeling up for it yet. Just adjust based on what your body is telling you. Remember that this isn't a race. You're jumping rope to stay fit and healthy and as such, shouldn't listen to anything other than what your body is telling you.