Jump Into Shape, a new men’s jump roping class with a mission to build a healthier guf (body) for our neshama (soul) is off to a great start. The class was created and is led by Bergenfield’s Russell Moskowitz to share the benefits he has gained from jumping rope. Two years ago, when Russell turned 40, he discovered jumping rope as an easy, convenient and cost-effective way to stay in shape and preemptively combat a family history of diabetes and heart problems. Using the Crossrope©-weighted jump ropes for 10 minutes a day, three times a week, he lost 14 pounds the first year and then kept off the weight and added muscle mass in the second year. At age 42, Russell is in the best physical shape of his life.
Jump Into Shape’s six-session beginner class is designed for men with no prior jumping experience. Russell teaches the four fundamental jump-roping skills to his students: bounding, wrist placement and movement, posture and rope movement. Patience is required as it can take a few sessions to combine the skills and achieve proper form. Then the real fun starts.
Each 35-minute class is designed to achieve maximum fat burning and muscle growth through Tabata training with a variety of weighted ropes. Tabata training is a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workout that pushes each person to give 100 percent effort through quick, intense bursts of exercise, followed by short recovery periods. Each class begins and ends with a warm-up and stretch, and includes an HIIT workout and jump-rope challenge. The beginners’ class uses ropes weighing ½ pound and ¼ pound and a variety of jumping routines like the standard single under, leg raises and jumping jacks to achieve an efficient and fun workout. The class was summed up best by current participant, Yossi K: “An amazingly fun full-body workout. Highly recommended for all.”
When asked about the benefits of jumping, especially versus running, Russell shared, “Research shows that jump roping boosts fat burning, increases muscle engagement, improves cardio, improves mental sharpness, is less stressful on the body than running, forces good posture and is a fun way to exercise. Some studies have shown that jumping rope can burn 1,300 calories per hour; helps with the development of the left and right hemispheres of your brain, which further enhances spatial awareness; improves reading skills; increases memory; and makes you more mentally alert.
“The fun factor perhaps is the most important as there are always new skills to learn and [an] endless array of programs a person can jump. I personally like alternating between the two-pound rope and.7-pound rope in my own workouts, but the most fun I ever had jumping was at a recent wedding when my son and I jumped for the chosson and kallah.”
As many of us have very busy lives, it can be hard to balance Torah obligations, family and work, let alone time to work out. The idea of bringing the gym to the shul so after tefillah a person can “jump” to the social hall for a work out was immediately endorsed by Rav Neuberger, to whom Russell is very grateful for supporting this initiative. In the Beth Abraham newsletter, Rav Neuberger promoted the class by stating, “As you know, we often discuss the importance that halacha places on health consciousness. Unfortunately, it is hard to find gym facilities for men that are acceptable to our concern of tzniyus. That is why I am thrilled that Russell Moskowitz has over the past years through research and personal experience developed a rope-jumping program for adults. It seems to be both time efficient and very effective.”
Registration is now open at http://bit.ly/jumpintoshape for the second six-session beginners’ class at Beth Abraham starting on December 18 at 9:20 p.m. Alternatively, gather nine of your friends and Russell can start a program for you an alternate location and time. If you are interested in learning more about the program, you can reach Russell at [email protected].
