TREND TO TRY
As our love affair with speedy but effective workouts continues, these long, thick ropes anchored to sturdy trees, beams or poles are going mainstream. After years in specialist fitness centres, they’re in gyms and parks all over the UK – and with good reason. They’re a fun and efficient way to work your whole body and make a change from performing the same old circuits. They’re heavy, so moving them forces you to engage muscles, and tones your back, legs, bum, arms, shoulders and core simultaneously. To get started, pull them straight, then standing with feet hip-width apart, knees slightly bent, create rippling waves by moving them up and down or crisscrossing sideways for 20 seconds; rest for 30 seconds and repeat three times. Make it harder by incorporating squats or reverse lunges. You can buy your own set for £30-£40 online.
Time to, literally, learn the ropes