Let's Bounce!

Looking for a cushioned, low impact and completely fun workout? It may be time to seek new forms of exercise that will help keep you motivated, flexible and fit without adding impact or stress to your joints.

Add a little bounce to your fitness routine with a fitness trampoline.

Trampolines have come a long way from when they first became popular with fitness enthusiasts in the 1980s. The new designs still provide a smooth, deep, low-impact, shock absorbing, yet lively bounce that isn't harsh or jarring. But now they also have elastic cords instead of steel springs, a stable, no-tip-over frame design, and come with professional fitness instruction for a fun new approach to a total-body workout.

The action of bouncing, or rebounding, on a proper piece of equipment gets your joints and muscles working with and against gravity. This gives you the workout you've been looking for without force and impact on your body.

If a joint feels uncomfortable, it is natural to want to minimize how often you move it. The problem is that this will, over time, decrease your range of motion. Daily motion and exercise is important to keep joints healthy and active. It is important for all of us to keep moving.

Because healthy, flexible, responsive joints are so crucial to all our activities, they need to be exercised just like our other physical systems, muscles and organs. If your activities are limited by joint pain or discomfort, it becomes even more important to choose the correct exercise program and the correct piece of equipment in order to stay active.

Bouncing on a high-quality piece of equipment creates an exercise synergy. Your joints and muscles get a low-impact, vigorous workout, and your joints become lubricated.

There’s also another benefit of bouncing: You’ll feel better. Bouncing triggers the release of endorphins in the brain. These chemicals, naturally produced by your body, trigger feelings of happiness and well-being.

Sound like fun? Then you will definitely want to try the JumpSport Fitness Trampoline.

Choosing the wrong piece of equipment makes for a poor experience and could be dangerous. And when you are limited by joint pain or discomfort it is natural to be protective of your joints. A typical trampoline may feel unstable or unsafe.

This can cause you to tense your muscles and joints and instead of feeling joy and the rush of endorphins, you may feel stress.

The JumpSport Fitness Trampoline takes that concern out of the equation. Hard metal springs have been replaced with elastic cords and the trampoline has a patented non-tip technology, making it almost impossible to tip over.

Believe me, I put it to the test. I was jumping on the very edge of it and doing burpees off of it, in an effort to make it tip over. The trampoline still felt 100 percent balanced and sturdy.

Several master fitness instructors offer classes on the JumpSport Fitness Trampoline in the Bay Area. They include Kathy Jo Burgett at KB Fitness in San Jose. But if you can’t make it to a class, you can learn through a fitness DVD that includes several fitness routines.

Kathy takes you through a full-body workout that includes six fitness routines: Warm-up and stretching, cardio, strength, upper body, core and a handlebar workout.

Another great benefit to fitness trampolines is that they are fun for everyone. Bouncing can entertain children for hours, yet also be an energizing activity for grandma and grandpa.

Don’t let joint limitations limit your activity. There are options and activities out there for you, no matter where you are in terms of fitness.

Add a little bounce to your step, boost your vitality and embrace a fitness routine that provides you with an exhilarating, total-body workout.

NOTE: Always check with your doctor or a medical professional before beginning a vigorous exercise regimen.