Acon USA, Inc.
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Otsego, MN 55330, USA
What is Rebounding? Simple Guide to Trampoline Exercise
10 Mins Read
May 26, 23
If you’ve read any women’s magazines or been on the workout and fitness side of TikTok for some time, chances are you’ve heard about rebounding. But what is it all about and why should you try it?
Simply put, rebounding could be considered as jumping on a trampoline for fitness purposes.
Yet, there’s so much more to rebounding that you may miss. It’s about feeling good in your body and exercising because of the joy that it brings to you. It’s about having that smile on your face even during the most challenging trampoline fitness workouts. And it’s about you finding a new way to love fitness again.
In this article, we go through:
Basics of Rebounding
Essentially, rebounding is a form of low-impact exercise done on a rebounder trampoline (often also called simply as rebounder, fitness trampoline, or mini trampoline). Having several health benefits to your body and mind, this cardio-focused exercise also works on building muscle. While rebounding classes exist in major cities, most often it’s a type of home exercise, thus it’s typical to buy your own rebounder. And, most importantly, rebounding is loved because it’s so much fun; who wouldn’t enjoy jumping on a trampoline?
As, said, this exercise form is designed to low-impact, due to which it suits to most people regardless of their age and skill level. Many seniors and elderly people love rebounding because it's easy on the joints, while busy women in their 20s, 30s and 40s love rebounding because it's easily accessible - you can do it at home even if you have only 10 minutes available. Yet, you do not have to match any of these groups of people to start rebounding, as it is suitable for everyone.
Rebounding is also safe. You can enhance its safety of it by choosing a rebounder that is sturdy and heavy enough to withstand even the highest of jumps. Also, a large jump zone and a handlebar could be considered as safety features. Overall, rebounding is considered an easy-to-begin type of sport, yet those who are on an advanced level still have enough challenge when executing those advanced-level jumps and moves.
Now that you know what is rebounding, it’s time to look into how to start the sport in an efficient way.
How to start rebounding?
Simply put, exercising on a trampoline is impossible without either owning one or trying someone else’s rebounder. If you live in a big city and are lucky enough to have classes, then it may be a good idea to try a class or two first before committing to a rebounder.
Below, you can find three tips on how to take your first steps into the world of trampoline fitness.
Step 1 – Get a Rebounder (or try a Rebounding Class)
For most of us, the rebounding journey starts with comparing various fitness trampoline models and buying the one suitable for our needs and liking. When choosing a rebounder, we recommend focusing on the following things:
Jump Zone Size
Jump zone size refers to the size of the mat on which you land after each bounce. Jump zone is different from the rebounder size (often mentioned in the product name) as this refers to the overall diameter of the rebounder. Most people prefer to have more space to jump on. ACON’s hexagonal rebounders have one of the largest jump zones available.
Quality of the Materials
What are the materials made of? How are they protected against wear and tear? For instance, ACON's rebounders are extremely sturdy due to their thick galvanized steel frame and UV protection. These are features that may not be found in all rebounder models available online.
Accessories and Spare Parts
This is very important! At some point, you'll need spare parts for your rebounder no matter how high-quality your rebounder is. Check with the manufacturer beforehand whether they offer spare parts. ACON provides 100% spare part availability.
Additionally, you may be interested in accessories, such as handlebars, yoga mats, and resistance bands, once you get to the intermediate level in rebounding. Check that your manufacturer provides what you need for exercising efficiently.
Warranty and other aspects
Lastly, you want to make sure that the rebounder comes with an extensive warranty. Check the warranty policies of each manufacturer you are considering purchasing the product from and compare them. ACON Rebounders come with an extensive warranty policy, including a 10-year warranty for the frame.
Other aspects that you may want to consider before making a purchase could be:
- design
- springs (bungees vs mini springs)
- shipping costs.
Step 2 – Assemble the Rebounder
Once the rebounder arrives at your door, it’s time to assemble it. The assembling process for rebounders is relatively quick compared to large garden trampolines. ACON trampolines provides the paper version of the assembling guide together with the rebounder and as well as digital version on its site for all manuals. Regardless of which rebounder you end up purchasing, remember to build it according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer.
Step 3 – Try your first Rebounder Workout Routine
Once you’ve got your rebounder assembled and ready for action, it’s time to exercise! We suggest to start with light jog to get used to how the bounce feels under your feet. Move in ways that make you feel good.
For the first routine, keep the exercises simple. Add 3-4 moves you'd like to try to a playlist and you have your first routine ready. Start your rebounding routines by watching videos on ACON FIT YouTube Channel.
Benefits of Rebounding
The list of rebounding health benefits is extensive. Some prefer to emphasize the physical side of rebounding benefits, while for others, the mental and social aspects of it are more valuable.
These are the top 5 health benefits of rebounding:
- Gentle on joints – rebounding is loved due to its low-impact nature
- Heart health – jumping on a trampoline improves cardiovascular health
- Better stability – a bouncy surface gives you a constant challenge to your balance and coordination
- Supports mental health – Bouncing on a trampoline is known to release happy hormones. It can also act as a great stress reliever
- No fuss – rebounding is easy to start at home, so you don’t have to worry about going anywhere.
For many, however, the biggest benefit is simply the joy that rebounding gives to them. Jumping on a trampoline is thrilling by default, and fitness trampolines allow adults to enjoy the thrills of jumping in a constructive and effective way.
Rebounders Part by Part
Now that you’ve got the basics of what rebounding is all about, it’s time to dive deeper into the question of what a rebounder is. In short, rebounder is a small trampoline that is designed for fitness purposes. Most models are round, yet some have more unique shape, like ACON’s 55in Hexagonal Rebounder. Usually designed for indoor purposes, a rebounder consists of frame, bungee cords or springs and a mat. Depending on the manufacturer, the handlebar can be bought together and/or separately.
Coming in various colors and designs, most popular colors tend to be neutral ones, such as black or white. While the most inexpensive models can be bought for approximately 100-150 CAD, premium quality rebounders are around the 350-600 CAD range. ACON’s models are in around 400 CAD.
Frame
A solid, sturdy frame is the core of the rebounder. If the frame feels light and fiddly, you may feel like you cannot trust it, leading to you opting for less-intense workouts in contrast to what you’d prefer to go for. Therefore, you want to make sure that the rebounder frame is made of steel and that it’s heavy enough to handle even the highest of jumps.
When it comes to ACON’s fitness rebounders and their frames, they are top quality. The galvanized steel makes sure that the product is rust-resistant. You can rest assured that it won’t tip over.
Bungee Cords
The bungee cords are a necessary part of any rebounder as they create the bounce together with the mat. The bungee cords are made of rubber (synthetic or natural), which creates a different type of bounce compared to the bounce on outdoor garden trampolines with springs. Due to the difference in materials, you’ll have to put more effort into each jump in order to create bounce, leading you to sweat and exercise more.
Mat
A rebounder mat is, simply put, a mat that is attached to the frame through the bungee cords. At ACON, we make all trampoline mats of tightly woven, hard-wearing polypropylene. The mat is designed to take a lot of impact in regular use. However, it’s good to remember that it’s not recommended to put anything sharp on the mat as this could damage the mat.
Handlebar
A handlebar for fitness rebounder is the only accessory that many would consider an absolute must. There are two types of handlebars, T-shape and U-shape ones, the T-shape handlebar being the most popular type. The rebounder handlebar has two functions:
- To help beginners with balance and coordination
- To give intermediate and advanced-level rebounding enthusiasts extra support for higher and more complex jumps
Generally speaking, it’s a good idea to get the rebounder with handlebar as it often is more affordable to buy them together than buying it separately.
Why should you try rebounding?
Rebounding is often compared to pilates, yoga and gymnastics. Indeed, the sport has some similarities with these three other types of exercise, which is why you may enjoy rebounding in case you’ve enjoyed pilates, for instance, in the past.
While the similarities are there, you do not need to have any experience in any type of exercise to start rebounding. In fact, trampoline exercises are one of the most beginner-friendly exercise forms to begin your fitness journey with! Have a look on our rebounders and experience the thrill of rebounding with ACON.
FAQ on Rebounding
Are rebounders worth it?
If you are looking into starting a fun method of exercising, then yes! Rebounding is much easier to start if you have one at your home. Owning one means that you can start bouncing and exercising whenever you feel like in the comfort of your home.
Is a rebounder better than a trampoline?
The short answer is - it depends! If you are planning to get a trampoline for fitness purposes, then yes, the rebounder is a much better choice. However, if you are looking for a trampoline for you and your kids or for tricking and gymnastics purposes, then you need a garden trampoline designed for outdoor use.
Is rebounding a good type of exercise?
Yes! Rebounding is known for its many health benefits. It’s suitable for most due to it being a low impact form of exercise. Jumping on a fitness trampoline improves your cardiovascular health, boosts your lymphatic system and helps with balance and coordination.
