Have you tried rebounding for your daily exercise? Find out how the rebounder benefits the whole body in these five important ways. #1 is surprising!
Jumping for exercise? Yippee! I feel like a kid again as I’m rebounding my way to greater health.
What exactly is a rebounder? Think mini trampoline. Speaking of which, I remember “tramp hopping” in junior high, where we’d sneak into strangers’ yards and jump on their trampolines. Today, I’m less of a delinquent, but I still get a high when I bounce 🙂
Embraced by the raw food and new age crowds, rebounding is a safe and effective form of exercise. But it doesn’t stop at cardio benefits.
Rebounding benefits the entire body in five key ways
1. Moves the lymph system
This often forgotten about, yet extremely important, body system is a network of organs, nodes, ducts, and vessels that produce and transport lymph from tissues to the bloodstream. The lymph system is a major component of the body’s immune system. Unlike our blood, which is pumped by the heart, the lymph system has no pump and must be moved by exercise.
2. Gentle on the body
Rebounding is a great form of cardio and yet, unlike running, jump rope or other strenuous exercise, it is extremely gentle on our joints. Instead of pounding the pavement, we’re exercising on something that gives with each jump.
3. Burns the calories
While rebounding, you achieve a weightless state at the top of each jump and then land with twice the force of gravity. This phenomenon affects the entire body, down to our cells, particularly in the way our body burns calories. A 150-pound person bouncing one hour on a rebounder burns about 410 calories, as opposed to 355 while jogging at five miles per hour.
4. Facilitates detox
Rebounding can increase the rate of lymph flow by 14 times, helping flush more toxins and debris from our body, according to Arthur C. Guyton, M.D., chairman of the department of Physiology and Biophysics at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine.
5. It’s fun!
Let’s face it. Exercise can be a bore. I gravitate towards walking since I love the fresh air and changing scenery. Put me in a gym, I’m not a happy camper. Staring at cement walls while listening to bad music and hearing men grunt isn’t my idea of fun. In contrast, I find JOY, yes JOY, while bouncing on my rebounder! I’m hoping that this will keep me bouncing regularly 🙂
Which rebounder mini trampoline to buy?
Finding the right rebounder is harder than you’d think. I went down the rabbit hole for a couple hours before finally pulling the trigger on ours.
rebounder
Rebounders seem to come in four flavors:
- Cheapo Chinese versions ($50). If you want to try rebounding for $50, pick up one of these. They double as toys for kids. But some of them do get good reviews on Amazon, and they ship for free, so what the heck.
- The Urban Rebounder ($90). Still made in China, this seems to be the middle of the road choice. Some people complain about the quality, but dozens of others give glowing reviews. Bonus: J.B. Berns, the instructor on the included discs, has enough INTENSITY to keep you hopped up all year long.
- Needak Rebounder ($300). This is the gold standard in rebounders. Made in the USA, with a lifetime warranty on the frame, and a five year warranty on the mat, this is the best money can buy. And you’ll need a lot of money to buy it. It has a soft bounce, folds in half, and the spring-loaded legs pop off for storage.
- The bellicon rebounder. This thing is the Porsche of all rebounders. Not only is the bounce smooth, gentle and effective, it’s QUIET. Why such a difference? The bellicon has bungees versus springs. Click here to see my review.
To get started with rebounding, we bought an opened-but-never-used Needak on Amazon for $250. Later, we graduated to the bellicon.
Both are great options!
Anyone else out there rebounding? Tell us about your experience!
