Posted on November 03, 2016 by Kate Halsall
Most of you will know that I LOVE trying the more unusual types of exercise – aerial hoops and Pound as examples. So it’s only natural that I should give this trampolining thing a go! One of my clients returned from a break in Turkey talking non stop about rebounding (those mini trampolines) and what a good work out it was. But is trampolining really good exercise?
Dragging a couple of clients with me, we went to participate in a 30 minute HIIT class on a trampoline. Forty-five seconds on 15 seconds off intervals consisting of jumping as high as you can, star jumping, tuck jumping, frog jumps and “spidermen” against the springy walls…this wasn’t exercise, this was like being 12 again! I was sweating. I was having fun…and so were my clients (not a single moan or whinge at all!). Our instructor tells us we’ll burn around 280 calories in 30 minutes….hmmmmmm….as I explain to the girls on our way home, I only burn 375 in a hard 45 minute spin class, so I’m not convinced about that. But here’s the shocker, according to my trusty Fitbit which had given me my spin calories, it said in the 47 minutes we spent essentially messing around on a trampoline, I had burnt 321 calories…BRILLIANT!
So I start to research this. Here’s some other reasons why trampolining is good exercise:
- A piece of research found that 10 minutes on a trampoline burnt as many calories as 30 minutes of running.
- Low impact exercise. One of the articles I found stated that the trampoline absorbs approx. 80% of the shock to your body and joints.
- Because of the vertical movement, trampolining boosts the circulation of the lymph system and therefore improves the immune system.
- Combines the benefits of resistance training i.e. stronger bones, with those of cardiovascular training i.e increased oxygen capacity
- Improves your balance and as such has to work your core!
My personal opinion is this: if you want to feel like you’re 12 again, laugh constantly at yourself, minimise injury to yourself and sweat – trampolining is a low impact fun way to exercise. Who cares if it’s just the latest “thing” – enjoy it whilst it lasts! However, never lose sight of your goals, in my mind it should compliment your training plan – maybe go on a rest day! Now when are those rebounding instructor courses…………
https://www.wellbeingjournal.com/rebounding-good-for-the-lymph-system/
http://www.livestrong.com/article/395958-which-muscles-does-a-trampoline-work-out/
http://www.springfit.org/activities/trampolining/benefits-of-trampolining/