Every other day, I have a ritual that leaves me breathless but triumphant. It takes 38 seconds, costs nothing and needs no equipment. It might make me look slightly unhinged, but it’s benefitting my health – and could help yours, too.
What is it? I jump. Or squat jump, to be precise. Starting with my feet flat on the floor, shoulder width apart, I squat, my elbows bent and hands in front of my chest, before jumping as high as I can, pushing my arms down to help make the movement as explosive as possible.
I land back in a squat with a thud. Then I go again, and again, until I’ve jumped 32 times (four sets of eight) and am gasping for air. Not (just) because I am mad or for the cardiovascular exercise, but because I am strengthening my bones, reducing my risk of fractures and breaks in later life.
Shorts
As children, most of us jumped unthinking, from trees and climbing frames, over ropes, on bouncy castles. Then we got desk jobs, lost muscle and maybe some confidence, and the concept of propelling ourselves into the air for the sake of it begun to feel more jarring than joyous.
