Benefits of Jumping Jacks by Nina Makofsky

From boot camp classes to circuit training, jumping jacks are showing up in many hardcore workouts. The trend of doing back-to-basics calisthenics reflects the philosophy of multitasking. Many vigorous calisthenics, including jumping jacks, do more than burn calories. They function as cardiovascular, strengthening and stress-relieving exercises. Make jumping jacks part of a daily or weekly fitness plan and modify them to meet your fitness goals.

Aerobic Benefits

The primary benefit from doing jumping jacks is that it elevates your heart rate. You breathe more deeply while jumping, which delivers oxygen to your bloodstream and ultimately to your muscles. You burn fat at a rapid rate, promoting weight loss. If you weigh 130 lbs. and do vigorous jumping jacks or other calisthenics, you burn 472 calories per hour. If you weight 155 lbs. you burn 563 calories per hour, if you weigh 180 lbs. you burn 654 calories, and if you weigh 205 lbs. you burn 745 calories.

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