Jump for Joy

Jump ropes have come a long way from the playground and boxing gym. Today you can find sleek bodies skipping rope in upscale health clubs from Manhattan to Hollywood. What's the appeal? It's a low-tech exercise that jump-starts the heart and burns more calories than most aerobics, according to the American Council on Exercise. It also delivers a full-body workout. "You end up working the tiniest muscles," says platinum-selling R.-and-B. singer Deborah Cox, who recently unveiled the new, more muscular body she attributes to her jump-rope routine. Renee Zellweger and Jennifer Beals have taken Ultimate Jump Rope with guru Louis Garcia at Crunch in Los Angeles. (Garcia's workout is available on videotape at ijumprope.com.) And if you like your ropes high tech, the Swingmaster, left, lets you add up to 5 lbs. of weight resistance to your workouts. It sells for $60 at itsverycool.com.