5 reasons you should take up trampolining

Ever considered hopping on a trampoline to get your endorphin fix? Like most of the population, trampolining is often associated with that dodgy trampoline your mate had in their back garden when you were 10 – in effect, a child’s toy. However trampolining – or ‘rebounding’ as the pros like to call it – actually offers a multitude of health and fitness benefits. So much so that many gyms and classes are incorporating trampolines into their workouts as well as a growing number of trampoline ‘parks’ cropping up all over the country. Here are 5 reasons you should take up trampolining today.

It’s super efficient

Studies by NASA scientists show that trampolining as a form of exercise is 68 per cent more effective than jogging and yet requires less effort. They found that jumping on a trampoline for 10 minutes is equivalent to a 30-minute run, giving you the same benefits in a third of the time. It has also been proven to out-perform swimming as an all-round exercise.

It’s easier on your joints

It is also claimed it develops both upper and lower body strength just as effectively as weightlifting without the strain or threat of pulled or torn muscles. The bouncy nature of the trampoline absorbs an incredible 80 per cent of the force as you land, preventing you from jarring your ankles, knees, hips and spine. So if you have a weakness, trampolining is a great way to get your exercise-fix the safe way.

It helps you build strong bones

When looking for the best exercise to rebuild lost bone tissue, NASA astronauts (whose weightless state caused them to lose 15 per cent of their bone mass) found that trampolining came out on top. Why? The repetitive nature of trampolining puts your bones under small amounts of stress, which consequently encourages them to build up mineral content. This increases the density of your bones and reduces your chance of developing conditions such as osteoporosis.

It aids co-ordination

If your co-ordination skills aren’t quite as sharp as you’d like, trampolining can help with that, too. Not only do you need to concentrate to maintain balance, co-ordination is needed to achieve different positions. And that doesn’t only apply to pros. Even if you’re a beginner and learning to do a simple sequence such as a seat drop, a tuck jump and a star jump – each of these moves require good motor skills, not just to complete it but also think ahead to the next move.

It’s fun!

Despite being so good for you, trampolining doesn’t feel like hard work at all. When you get a little more confident to jump a little higher or try that new move the feeling of exhilaration you get is like no other. Hello endorphins!