Jumping rope is a great calorie-burner. You'd have to run an eight-minute mile to work off more calories than you'd burn the jumping rope. Use the WebMD Calorie Counter to figure out how many calories you'll burn for a given activity, based on your weight and the duration of exercise.

"It's certainly good for the heart," says Peter Schulman, MD, associate professor, Cardiology/Pulmonary Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington. "It strengthens the upper and lower body and burns a lot of calories in a short time, but other considerations will determine if it's appropriate for an individual.

• Focus on maintaining good symmetry while you're jumping. This will ensure that you have a nice open loop to jump through. Watch the beginning of the video for details.
• Make sure you're using your wrists to turn the rope (not your elbows or shoulders). Good wrist rotation is the key to good rope rotation.
• Maintain a light bound all the way through. Don't jump too high or bring your knees up or kick your feet back. Watch the feet during the video for reference and pay attention to the slight knee bend (important for shock absorption).
• Maintain a good rhythm throughout the workout. As you get better, you can increase the pace of your jumps.