There are a number of ways you can train yourself to jump higher, through various types of exercise for cardiovascular, muscle strength, muscle endurance and joint flexibility.
All four of these are important when it comes to higher vertical jumping, such as in basketball or hurdling.
Since thigh muscle strength is a large part a vertical jump, it is important to focus on this muscle group.
You can train yourself in various ways for muscle strength including weight lifting.
If you do not have access to weights, you can purchase affordable resistance or exercise bands that include many targeted exercises and are easy to perform.
Muscle Strength: There are many thigh muscle strength activities such as jumping rope, riding a bike, jogging or running, and swimming that don't require any special equipment.
Things such as leg squats, lunges, lifts and stretches are easy to train yourself to jump higher.
Routines that involve only calf lifts and leg squats, with increasingly higher reps are a simple workout to train yourself to jump higher.
As you build muscle strength, you will be able to easily run faster and jump higher.
Muscle Endurance: Muscle endurance comes from a muscle's ability to perform strength exercises repetitively, with increasing difficulty to build bulk and endurance.
Muscle endurance is important in that you have to push your workout just to the point of pain to see results.
Once you are "feeling the burn", you have pushed far enough.
This point should increase as you train yourself with an every other day routine that allows the muscles to rest a day in between.
Joint Flexibility: Joint flexibility is important in vertical jumps as ankle, knees and hips must be strong enough and flexible enough to withstand jumping.
It is important that you stretch before and after your workouts, drink plenty of fluid to keep hydrated, and eat a diet heavy in protein to build muscles.
Many athletes will take multivitamins and supplements to increase joint flexibility.
Ballet lessons are a great way to increase flexibility, balance and coordination which are essential to vertical jumping.
It also involves great leg strength exercises necessary in dancing, as well as sports.
Cardiovascular Exercising: Not only is this important to an overall healthy body, but coordinated with the other three types of exercising you will be able to build leg muscle strength.
Activities such as aerobics, martial arts, or Pilates are great cardio exercise training that you can use to train yourself to jump higher.
Even walking, jogging and running build leg muscles, as well.
Some athletes like water aerobics, as it also combines resistance strength training without the stress on the joints or muscle pains in weight lifting.
Summary: Whatever exercises you choose to train yourself to jump higher, the important part is to stretch, before and after the workout, add increasing difficulty and reps to build bulk, and choose activities you enjoy to stick with it.
How Do I Train Myself to Jump Higher? Just pick a way to build your leg muscles, and you can't go wrong.