The joy (and health benefits) of jumping

Posted May 3, 2011

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Remember how fun jumping on your bed used to be. Well, that was until you either hit your head on the ceiling, bit your tongue or alerted a strict parent to the fact that you are “disrespecting their furniture”. Whatevs. Today I’m going to give your permission to get back into jumping, except now that we are adults and now that we know how much bedding actually costs, this kind of jumping is done on something called a rebounder.

A rebounder, or a mini trampoline, is quite possibly one of the best and easiest ways to exercise. Not only will it ease your guilt of not going to the gym, but it will also get your lymph moving (win for detoxification!), oxygenate your cells and give your body a great all-over and gentle work out.

This is the deal when it comes to detoxing your body: you need to get your lymph moving. The lymph system bathes every cell, carrying nutrients to the cell and waste products away. Unlike our blood, which is pumped around by the heart, the lymph system is totally dependent on exercise to get a move along. If we don’t get the lymph moving, our cells are left stagnant. They stew in their own waste, starve of nutrients and can lead to a whole host of problems including arthritis, cancer and other degenerative diseases. Exercise, particularly rebounding, is said to increase lymph flow by 15 to 30 times.

The vertical up and down movement is rebounding is effective because the lymph fluid moves through channels called “vessels” that are filled with one way valves, so the lymph always moves in the same direction. The main lymph vessels run up the legs, up the arms and up the torso.

For those of you who like details, this is what jumping on a rebounder each day will do for you:

• Circulate oxygen to your tissues.
• Increases lymphatic circulation, as well as blood flow in the veins of the circulatory system.
• Helps you breathe deeper.
• Normalises your blood pressure.
• May help combat depression.
• Stimulates the metabolism.
• Promotes muscle tone.
• Increases the activity of the red bone marrow in the production of red blood cells.
• Lowers elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
• Enhances digestion and elimination processes.

All of this, and all you need to do is get your bounce on for 10, 15 or 20 minutes each day. Use bare feet and start off by doing a gentle bounce, kind of like a walking motion where your feet are on the mat but your body is moving up and down. When you get more confident you can go nuts and bounce however you like.

You can jump on your rebounder in your living room, your office, or in your backyard. You can also buy portable rebounders to use if you’re on the go a lot.

Have you used a rebounder?

Positive affirmation for the day: I choose to think positive and loving thoughts to create a positive and loving world around me.

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