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The Benefits Of Jumping Jacks

  • Last Updated On: April 15, 2024
  • 3 minute read

Jumping jacks have moved from merely a warm-up routine to a regular part of one’s fitness regime. It has many benefits.

What you need to know:

What are jumping jacks?

Jumping jacks, also known as side jumps, are body workout exercises you can do anytime and anywhere. Jumping jacks involve a mix of aerobic and resistance exercises. In addition, jumping jacks benefit your heart health, lungs and muscles. Practising jumping jacks exercise benefits your hip flexors, quadriceps and glutes. Follow these steps to perform them correctly:

  • Stand straight with your feet together, and arms stretched out on both sides.
  • In a quick motion, jump, moving your feet apart, in the outward direction and raise your arms above your head.
  • Go back to the starting position.
  • The entire cycle from start to back equals one jumping jack.

Physical benefits of jumping jacks

Perform jumping jacks daily to reap the following benefits:

  • Develops strong bones: 

Jumping jacks, an anti-gravity exercise, stretch the muscles at the bones. This, in turn, increases bone mass, improving bone strength. With each jump, new bone cells are formed. Jumping jacks reduce the chances of developing bone diseases, especially in old age. Plus, the body stays agile and flexible, a sign of strong bones.

  • Improves heart health:

Jumping jacks, a form of cardio, helps increase the heart rate. Cardio workouts are active and quick exercise routines that boost blood flow to the heart muscles. A good blood flow and oxygen levels ensure a healthy heart. This, in turn, reduces the risk of heart disease like heart attack and combats serious lifestyle diseases such as diabetes.

  • Fights flab: 

The quick jumping motion fights obesity and keeps you in good shape. Being overweight is the cause of many serious health problems. Jumping jacks increase the metabolic rate, warm up the body and burn calories. It is easy to shed those extra kilos by performing jumping jacks every day. Looking at the new ‘you’ in the mirror will surely boost your confidence. Jumping jack benefits are both physical as well as mental.

  • Builds stamina:

Jumping jacks benefits body fitness levels over a period of time. Hence, don’t go overboard! Start by performing 10 jumping jacks, and gradually increase the repetitions as the endurance is built. Performing intensive and several jacks at the beginning can lead to body pain, exhaustion, or muscle pull. The ability to withstand physical activity takes time to develop. Higher stamina helps fight diseases, improves body movements and keeps tiredness at bay.

Mental and emotional benefits of jumping jacks

Here are some of the mental and emotional jumping jacks benefits:

  • Releases endorphins that boost your mood and state of mind.
  • Boosts your confidence levels.
  • Keeps stress and depression at bay. 

Safety considerations and modifications

Here are some of the safety measures and considerations that you can keep in mind while performing a jumping jacks workout. Let’s take a look at them –

  • Warm up before starting. Consider a session of light brisk walking.
  • Do them on even surfaces, such as grass or a leveled surface that absorbs shock.
  • Wear athletic shoes to avoid injuries.
  • Understand and practise the correct form to reap the maximum jumping jacks exercise benefits. 
  • Listen to your body. Consider connecting with a trainer to ensure you are doing it correctly.   

If you want to achieve multiple fitness goals with one exercise form, jumping jacks are your best bet. Apart from the above benefits, jumping jacks improve the muscle strength of the entire body, from the calves, quadriceps, glutes, and knees to the upper back. If you find the regular jumping jacks monotonous, you can switch them up. Try different variations of this exercise in the form of star jumps or squats. Kickstart your fitness with jumping jacks!

Stay tuned to the Activ Living Community. Keep up to date with the latest health tips and trends through expert videos, podcasts, articles, and much more in nutrition, fitness, mindfulness, and lifestyle conditions like Asthma, Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, and Diabetes.

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