The games that our children play seem so childish that we would not give them a thought as far as our fitness and health are concerned.
But the legendary ‘apart-together’ game is synonymous to an acclaimed workout called jumping jacks.
A jumping jack which is also called a star jump or side-straddle hop in the military, is a physical jumping exercise performed by jumping to a position with the legs spread wide and the hands touching overhead.
One may clap as they do that and then return to a position with the feet together and the arms at the sides.
Jumping jacks are part of plyometrics or jump training.
Plyometrics is a combination of aerobic exercise and resistance work working your heart, lungs, and muscles at the same time.
Elly Barangi, a fitness trainer, says jumping jacks work on your hip flexors, glutes, quadriceps while also involving your shoulder and abdominal muscles.
“While it sounds very militaristic, it is a great workout that will be great to add to your workouts.”

Benefits
There are types of jumping jacks and these include squat jumps, lunge jumps, and burpees. The benefits of this workout include the following:
Robert Ddamulira, a fitness coach with Robbie Fitness, says if you cannot access a treadmill or a stationary bike, jumping jacks are your alternative,.
“The exercises done in plyometrics will not only raise your heart rate but also tax your muscles owing to multidirectional movements hence agility and strength training.”

Therefore, with them, your bones are strengthened.
Barangi also points out that with increased heart rate, the body starts warming up and with it comes calorie burning. “With that comes shedding of extra weight. However, the exercising needs to be coupled with a healthy meal plan so that you not only achieve a certain body weight but also ably maintain it,” he advises.
Ddamulira also points out improved balance, “While you will easily get tired in the start, you need to stick with the workout because with time your balance will improve and you will ably withstand a workout for long.” With the ability to hold fort during a workout means combatting fatigue which also translates into fighting ailments and will make daily activities such as climbing a flight of stairs easier as you will labour less.

How it is done
While those benefits are available to you, doing the jumping jacks the wrong way may only lead to injuries that will lead to failed health. These instructors share on how to do them right:
Stand with your feet together and your arms at the sides
Then in one go, jump with your feet pushing sideways as you raise your arms above your arms.
Thereafter, jump back into place with your arms coming back to your highs. Remember to keep your arms straight, keeping more on your toes.