Jumping Jacks: A Full-Body Cardio Exercise
The jumping jack exercise is an old one that you may have executed at any one time in your routine. As simple as this exercise may look, this full-body workout is potent at working your cardiovascular health, building endurance, and strengthening muscles.
Key among the advantages of jumping jacks is that they keep the heart healthy. This energy-loaded movement speeds up one’s heartbeat in no time; hence, it is a great cardiovascular exercise. The continuous motion of jumping while working arms and legs at the same time promotes blood flow, which after some time will contribute to enhancing the functions of the heart and lungs. Jumping jacks performed on a regular basis will enable increased endurance and a healthy heart.
Besides cardio benefits, jumping jacks are an excellent method of exercise to build endurance and stamina. Since this exercise engages many groups at once-your legs, arms, core, and shoulders-your body needs to work harder to keep you moving. All this sustained effort will improve muscle endurance and enable you to perform other physical activities with more ease and for extended periods.
Jumping jacks are also another form of strengthening your muscles without equipment. The movement works the lower body-especially the calves, quads, and glutes-while the core muscles are turned on to help stabilize the body. It also involves some overhead arm movements that help in strengthening the shoulders and upper back. The jumping jack thus provides a full-body workout to develop functional strength and coordination.
Other benefits of jumping jacks are that you can do them almost anywhere (home, outdoors, gym) with no special equipment required. You can easily fit them into a workout as a warm-up, cardio burst between strength sets, or part of a HIIT routine.
Stand with your feet together, arms at your sides, then jump up spreading your feet while raising your arms overhead; jump again to bring your feet back together and your arms back to your sides.