Chicago — Fitness influencer Rachel Jabrow’s Instagram following has skyrocketed thanks to the power of jumping rope. Her business, Get Roped, is named after the exercise regimen she developed that incorporates strength training and jump rope intervals.
“I alternate between cardio and strength training, and it’s a really fun and exciting playlist,” Jabro said. “It’s something really different and we really had to introduce it to people so they could try something new.”
Jaburo, a former trader in the financial industry, jumped into the world of jump rope after a neck injury interrupted his regular running routine. After her friend encouraged her to jump rope, she developed her own program and was soon scouted to teach classes while pursuing a certification in fitness teaching.
“One day I woke up and decided to leave New York. I was going to leave Wall Street and start my own fitness business,” Jaburo said. “At any point in your life, you can really change. You can create something that you’re passionate about and use that to create something.”
Mr. Jaburo came to Chicago and began teaching the method at local gyms. She said part of the fun of jumping rope is her challenge of learning new tricks from experienced jumpers and then showing them off to others on Instagram and in person.
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“When my clients crack new tricks, it’s probably more exciting for me than it is for them,” Jaburo said. “It feeds my soul and gives me inspiration to spread the love of jump rope.”
Jaburo explains that jumping rope is a physical and mental workout because it tests the jumper’s coordination while working the entire body. She admits that she sometimes gets temporary “battle scars” from the ropes, which fade in a few hours, but she’s still scarred.
“When you go out in the cold and bang yourself up, it’s the worst pain you’ve ever felt,” Jaburo said, holding onto a PVC rope. “no pain no gain.”
on her website getroped.com, students can sign up for pop-up classes and purchase jump ropes. Jaburo, a former figure skater, said her love for fitness stems from her upbringing in a family that valued staying fit.
“I’ve been inspired by my family. We’re all very active and we motivate each other,” Jaburo said. “My grandfather, who passed away at the age of 103, always said that you can retire from working, but you can never retire from working out.”
