Metafit - Jumping vs Cardio
Jumping vs. Any “Cardio” Machine
You’ve likely been in a gym and seen people chugging away on treadmills, stair steppers, and bikes going nowhere, and you just know deep down there isn’t much that would be more boring for the mind and spirit. That’s why you see so many people on them with ear buds on or staring at the TV!
Jumping exercises are the polar opposite of these machines. Propelling our bodies up for distance or height while landing accurately and safely requires our full attention and concentration. And there’s nothing better for getting the heart rate going than fast and powerful jumping.
Of course, everybody thinks they know how to jump, and in this case, nearly everybody is wrong…
By learning to jump with correct form and developing precise control over our technique, the jump takes on whole new levels of neurological stimulation that go far beyond simple power output.
As METAFIT coaches we know technique is everything. Instruct your clients according to their ability and regress/ progress exercises to ensure safe movement for maximum benefit.
SO get off the treadmill and let’s see some BIG powerful explosive jacks….BUT remember, make sure that landing is controlled!!
Merafit isn't Just About Burning Fat
When you move your body through space, rather than staying still and moving weight around your body, you stimulate your brain through providing increased proprioceptive input. What this means is building a sense of where your body is in space.
Proprioception is what allows you to bend your elbow or flex your foot a precise amount or in a precise way, even if your eyes are closed and you can’t see what you’re doing – you still feel it.
Once upon a time, it may not have been as important to specifically address proprioception, but today, we spend most of our time sitting still. As a result we spend less of our time engaged in activities that increase proprioceptive input naturally, such as running, climbing, and just generally moving the body. To combat the perils of prolonged sitting, it’s important to engage the body in coordinated movements that increase the proprioception that would otherwise be neglected.
An additional benefit of most bodyweight exercises is the required full body coordination. Moving yourself around in unusual angles and with harder leverages creates strength and flexibility in the best way possible. You learn to have powerful and graceful control of your body in a lot of different situations.