Harvey and Marilyn Diamond, pioneers and authors of ‘Fit for Life’ hail the rebounder thus: ‘Resistive rebounding will probably revolutionise the fitness movement… not only for world-class athletes, but for everyone interested in fitness, from the weakest to the strongest, from the clumsiest to the most fleet of foot.’
George Nissan, an American, designed the first rebounder in 1936. He was inspired by trapeze artistes under the ‘Big Top’ (American for circus) who ended their act with a fall and bouncing flourish that climaxed their event. Shortly after the invention, the American Armed Forces adopted the device as a part of the training programme for US troops to ‘obtain aerial orientation and motor skills’ in their war effort.
Decades after the Second World War, the erstwhile USSR launched satellites into space in the late 1950s. Then, driven by their President John F Kennedy’s vision, the Americans accomplished his ‘mission moon’. The first country to plant its flag on Earth’s only satellite. ‘A first step for man. A giant leap for mankind,’ famously declared astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first human to moonwalk.
NASA, the ultimate authority on outer space, positions the rebounder as 68 per cent more efficient than jogging.
This is now history. What is largely unknown however, is that astronauts exercise by throwing themselves against the walls and floor of their space craft to strengthen bones and muscles.
Gravity (G-Force) is the great leveller on earth. It anchors our universe. Stars, planets, etc, are kept in place. Each of them has its own G-Force. Outer space is designed by a divine force that compels objects to their given/granted universal traffic lanes and line. Thanks to gravity. You have the G-Force power with the rebounder. Here’s how.
It is about the only thing to challenge and change the horizontal flow to a vertical one. With the rebounder beneath you, you can improve your body with literal leaps and bounds. As you step it up, you get the feel of it — the only exerciser that utilises three natural forces — acceleration (start), deceleration (halt) and gravity now transcend to the vertical plane. Once on the rebounder, every human cell is stimulated by these three natural forces. The subconscious mind doesn’t distinguish these three forces. It computes them as three gravities and reacts to the trio by commanding the cells to adjust positively. The rebounder is, simply put, a mat, supported and suspended on a set of springs and four legs. The University of Oklahoma, US, concludes that the rebounder absorbs 87 per cent of the shock of the bounce. NASA, the ultimate authority on outer space, positions the rebounder as 68 per cent more efficient than jogging. Indeed, rebounding is the complete all-rounder that stimulates the cells of your internal organs, veins and arteries. This also works out your bones and muscles besides increasing circulation and flushing your lymphatic systems. As noted earlier, its alignment with the vertical is its unique safety property.
Rebounder exercises help manage osteoporosis, arthritis and bladder incontinence.
Disarming arthritis
White blood cells, the body’s army, rush to the troubled joint to defeat the intruder. The resultant toxins and the pile-up of dead white cells caught in the ‘friendly fire’ in the inflamed joint are trapped by the injured joint rendered helpless by the pain. Gentle health bouncing helps clear the road block. And offers a way out to the new white-celled force.
Ousting osteoporosis
Multiple factors lead to this condition caused by cells accumulating and absorbing more minerals than they can dispose of. The acceleration and deceleration coupled with the increased pull of gravity (mentioned earlier) targets the bone cells for better disposal. Rebounder exercises ensure that your bones become denser and stronger. If you already suffer from osteoporosis, consult your physician. The doctor would recommend dietary changes. Please also check out rebounding with her/him.
Incontinence/bladder control
To pee or not to pee is not an option for a person suffering from this condition. This is ‘nature calling’. This problem can strike people as early as the thirties. The solution is simple. Strengthen the sphincter muscles that control the flow of urine from the bladder. Spread your rebounder exercises over several short sessions per day. You’d find yourself returning to normal activities soon without the ‘number one’ ghost haunting you.
P S: Trampoline 100 is available at Decathlon and Amazon at around ₹3,000.
The writers are authors of Fitness for Life and Simply Spiritual – You Are Naturally Divine and teachers of the Fitness for Life programme