I did mini trampoline workouts for a week, here's what happened (Women's Health)

Posted: Aug 30, 2023 in In the News

This article originally appeared in Women's Health on August 30, 2023.

 

'I did mini trampoline workouts for a week, here's what happened'

By Kirsti Buick and Ashley Mateo

It’s official – bouncing is back. Busy Philipps, Demi Lovato, Julianne Hough, Goldie Hawn… even WH cover star Kate Beckinsale can’t get enough of mini trampoline workouts.

‘I just got into trampolining, and it’s the greatest thing,’ the LA-based star revealed. ‘There’s this woman, Lauren Kleban, who started LEKFit, and I think she’s a genius because she streams classes online.’

Trampolining, or rebounding to those in the know, has hit home too. The UK’s ((BOUNCE)) was born in 2014, when founder Kimberlee Perry used £200 to purchase eight second-hand trampolines for a hired studio in Essex. By 2022, ((BOUNCE)) had attracted 47,000 people per month across 320 UK studios.

So, what does it actually do? I set out to try it myself, committing to mini trampoline workouts every day for a week, but first, here's everything you need to know.

First, is rebounding actually a good workout?

Despite its reputation as an activity for the 12-and-under set, trampolining provides the aerobic trifecta, says Steve Farrell, PhD, a senior investigator at the Cooper Institute and a fellow with the American College of Sports Medicine.

‘It uses significant amounts of oxygen at the muscular level, engages large muscle groups, and can be sustained continuously.’

Why are trampoline workouts so popular?

For Perry, it’s the fun factor: a workout people actually enjoy, rather than just suffer through. ‘If your workout is a bore, fitness feels like a chore – but what’s more fun than jumping on a trampoline? Combined with our exciting dance-choreographed routines, the classes are the most fun you can have while working out.’

But it’s not all fun and games: ‘Participants burn up to 700 calories per class, or about 520 for 45-minute online class, depending on how hard they work,’ she says.

That said, don't get too caught up in calorie burn as it differs from person-to-person. Just give it your best and know that you couldn't have got more from the class.

What are the benefits of a trampoline workout?

It’s truly low-impact cardio – the trampoline mat absorbs over 80% of it, according to Perry. ‘It’s also really beneficial internally, helping to build bone density and improve lymph flow which flushes the body of viruses, toxins, bacteria, waste and dead cells.’

On top of that trampolining can help to:

• Improve cardio fitness
• Improve coordination and balance
• Improve body composition
• Decrease blood pressure
• Improve lower body strength
• Increased bone density

Can trampoline workouts help with weight-loss?

Any form of exercise that adds to your daily energy expenditure can assist in weight loss. A 2018 study put a group of overweight Italian women on a 12-week rebounding programme that saw ‘significant improvements’ in body composition – decreased waist circumferences, decreased fat mass, and increased lean and muscular mass.

Is rebounding as good a cardio workout as running?

Rebounding has a lot in common with running, actually. Bouncing on a mini-trampoline is just as good for you as pounding the pavement, but it doesn’t feel as hard or intense on the body, according to a study by the American Council on Exercise.

That’s because ‘the trampoline absorbs a lot of the impact that, on a harder surface, travels up your legs,’ Farrell says.

 

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