So…I’ve never been an exercise “machine” person.

Instead, I’ve always gravitated to workouts that don’t require machines or a lot of equipment, like yoga or dancing and home workout videos. (I’m not anti-equipment. I own an elliptical machine. I’ve also spent considerable time on treadmills, rowing machines, stationary bikes, and even those swingy glider machines.)

But I’ve never met a piece of workout equipment that I absolutely loved and enjoyed and looked forward to using as much as the Bellicon rebounder.

I love rebounding for several reasons; here are just a few:

• There’s just something relaxing and fun about the feeling of being midair for a moment!
• Rebounding is really easy on the joints. You can do jumping jacks on a mini trampoline for a lonnnnnng time before your body starts feeling fatigued. (Also, if you’ve never tried doing jumping jacks on a carpet over a concrete floor, don’t. Just don’t do it.)
• Even though it feels fun and light and easy, a rebounder workout actually exercises every single muscle in the body.
• Trampoline workouts are effective at quickly melting away stress.
• Compared to other pieces of exercise equipment, a rebounder takes up a lot less space, which makes it an ideal piece of equipment to incorporate into a workspace.
• I don’t have to deal with the lines at the gym to use my Bellicon. I love this because it means I can get a great full body workout without waiting in line to use it and without the concern of wiping down machinery to avoid picking up germs from other gym patrons–especially during the winter months.

The list could go on and on, but I don’t want this post to become a page that scrolls for infinity.

And it’s versatile–I can use it before, during and after work.

In the evenings I like to unwind with longer sessions of walking and jumping on my rebounder, but during the workday, I find it’s really effective for short bursts of activity. Five minutes here and there may not seem like much, but the way I look at it…it’s better than nothing, right?

• And even a handful of 3-5 minute breaks over the course of the day adds up quickly.

Now, I’ve invested in a few different types of personal trampolines, but the Bellicon is the best one I’ve tried so far.

• I’m guessing it’s because of the bungee cords that are used on the machine–but for whatever reason, this brand has a bounce that feels more comfortable than the others I’ve used.
• And the bungees are so much quieter than the metal springs, which makes for a completely silent workout. (I’m really picky about this because almost all exercise machines tend to make some type of sound. Now, I can live with noisy machines…but it’s a lot easier to carry on a conversation or listen to music or watch a movie while you workout if you’re not competing with machinery noises.)

Rebounding workouts are a tried and true favorite of mine, so I know I’ll revisit other aspects of this particular kind of exercise in later posts. But, for now, that’s all I have!

Grace & Peace…