Sheila Is a Punk Roper

Written by Adaire Hahn | 03 November 2009

In the 70s, Janis Ian came out with “Seventeen”. Remember how she was never picked for basketball? Being both “athletically challenged” and terminally short, precluded me from being picked for any team related activity above “bench warmer”. In high school, my Converse sneakers, held together by the strength of bread ties and safety pins, would fly off every time I had to serve the ball in tennis class. In the 80s, Punk Rock was my saving grace from the deep dark oobliettes of teen angst and alienation, while mosh pits and punk shows where our physical fitness regimens on the weekends for my little brother and me.

The trouble with today's “designer fitness” programs, cute little yoga outfits, and exorbitant gym memberships, is the feeling of elitism that exudes from it. Participants are held up like Star Bellied Sneetches with “stars upon thars” while creating a bigger void between the haves and the have nots. But there's hope!

Jump Rope! Well, more specifically “Punk Rope” is the inspiration of Time Haft, who in 2004, at the age of 44, a personal trainer and track and field coach found himself with a knee that required surgery and two herniated discs in his lumbar spine. Tim wanted to find a fitness program that would meet his needs and safely get him back into shape. His goal was to find a class that was interactive, effective, and as fun as elementary recess. When he came up empty for such a class, he created his own utilizing rope jumping, high intensity cooperative workouts and drills, games, and relay races, and of course Punk Rock.

Punk Rope has grown by leaps and bounds to engage todays youth and yesteryear's “Youth Brigade” youth to bring whole communities together. Punk Rope has attracted government and non-profit programs like WIC, Healthy Schools Healthy Families, Big Brother Big Sisters, The American Heart Association and a host of others, including elementary schools in the New York City area. Because it is a community minded program, Punk Rope operates its classes in public settings like the YMCA, JCCs, park and rec centers, health clubs, colleges, skating rinks, bowling alleys, and city parks.

Each class runs with a different theme, from “Punk Rope goes Back to School” to “Punk Rope Goes to the Movies” and “Punk Rope time travels to the 1950s” The focus is on good health and building communities while having fun. Music can range from Punk to Ska, and Samba to Scottish bagpipes! If it can be dreamed, it can be created!

Adaire was so inspired by Punk Rope, she's fiercely training with her daughter's “Under the Sea” jump rope!