Editors Note: For me this article is really encouraging.  Not everyone is a get up at 5am to go kill themselves at the gym workout fanatic.  I am certainly NOT.  However I do believe that you owe it to yourself to explore what workout works for YOU.  You don’t have to do what everyone else does and we at Bella Life certainly don’t want you to suffer through getting healthy!  Add COLOR to your exercise and see if bouncing your way to health feels right for you.  While your at it, check out these amazing Body Rock Sport pieces to look stylish while getting fit. ~Nitika~

A common challenge that many people struggle with is finding an exercise routine that is effective, maintainable, and most importantly enjoyable!  Many of us decide to start the New Year on the ‘right foot’ and spend a lot of money on joining a gym or trying out a new yoga studio.  We put pressure on ourselves to start working out every day and if we do not, then we feel guilty for not keeping up with the unrealistic expectations we set for ourselves.  Unfortunately, something that was intended to make you feel good and improve your health ends up making you feel like a failure and you give up on it all together.  I am pointing this out so you can choose not to fall into this trap and instead set the intention to allow yourself to find the routine that works best for you.  One activity that I was inspired to start up again during my Living Foods Lifestyle program at the Ann Wigmore Institute in Puerto Rico this winter is rebounding.  Over the summer I admittedly neglected this valuable piece of equipment that was sitting in my bedroom, but I have seen the light and am now enjoying all of the wonderful benefits this exercise provides!

Rebounding? For those of you who may not have heard of rebounding it is a low-impact workout consisting of bouncing or jumping on a rebounder, which looks similar to a mini-trampoline but functions a bit differently.  Trampolines are typically used for recreation purposes and allow a greater G-force experience on the downward bounce than a rebounder.  Rebounders are usually of higher quality and are more stable, enabling it to be safe for every one of all ages to use.  Working with the forces of acceleration, deceleration, and gravity, rebounding stimulates every cell in your body.

Benefits. There are a number of benefits you can gain from rebounding which include; toning your body, reducing body fat, improving balance, strengthening your immune system, and improving your digestion.  It is a great aerobic workout which strengthens your heart muscles and can help balance your cholesterol levels.  I also find it helps uplift my mood and increases my energy level.  I love doing it first thing in the morning to start my day off on a positive note and wake myself up.  It is also perfect for when I get home from work to reset my mood and release any negative energy or stress I picked up throughout the day.  You have to try it for yourself but it is impossible for me to be bouncing up and down and not smile.  I often have creative ideas or think of solutions for a situation I have been trying to figure out while I am bouncing.  Another huge benefit that I like about rebounding is that you can do it barefoot in the comfort of your own home!

Types Exercises.  You can classify the types of exercises into three main categories consisting of:

1) The Health Bounce, an easy, gentle bounce keeping your feet on the mat of the rebounder that in just two minutes flushes your entire lymphatic system;

2) The Strength Bounce takes it to the next level of jumping off the mat up and down strengthening every cell in your body; and

3) The Aerobic Bounce allows  you to get creative and do a variety of movements including jogging, jumping jacks, twists, kicks, and punches.  I have my own little routine I like to do but once you start jumping you will be amazed how you intuitively just do what your body needs and what feels good.  The most important thing is to have fun with it and get your heart pumping!

Rebounding has not quite hit the mainstream yet, but more classes seem to be popping up in gyms such as Equinox, Crunch, and New York Health and Racquet.  Taking a class would be an excellent way to try it out before buying your own.  I personally have the Needak rebounder and have had a great experience with it, but there are many others on the market.  Just make sure to do some research and don’t end up wasting your money on an imitation that will not provide the same benefits.   I feel it is worth every penny I spent and if you have any questions please leave a comment or contact me directly.  I would be happy to support you to bouncing your way to health!