Jumping for joy

Mar 08, 2025

If you are tired of your workouts, it might be time to look into trampolines as an alternative form of exercise (with your doctor’s approval, of course). I treated myself to a 15-foot trampoline that arrived via UPS last week. I chose a JumpFlex because it was recommended by Wirecutter for the best balance, safety, and performance. WIrecutter is a resource for consumers. Owned by The New York Times Company, it offers a variety of product reviews on their website and through podcasts.

The JumpFlex was easy for us to assemble after consulting the directions. No doubt jumping on it provides a good cardiovascular workout. I was amazed at the amount of huffing and puffing I was doing after jumping for only five minutes. Did you know NASA did a study on trampolines and found that rebounding is 68% more effective than jogging? Jumping on the trampoline really does get your heart going in a good way!

According to Rubin and Bulwer, weight loss experts and authors of Perfect Weight America, “Jumping on a trampoline is one of the best and most complete anaerobic exercises you can do, because jumping strengthens muscles, tendons, and ligaments—and demands great energy.”

Anaerobic exercise refers to physical activities that require short bursts of intense effort without the use of oxygen. Included are exercises such as jumping and high intensity interval training vs aerobic exercises that involve continuous movement fueled by oxygen from the air that you breathe.

The two go on to say, “The acceleration, deceleration, and gravity pull positively stress your bones, which results in higher bone density.” Bruce Fife, the author of Rebound to Better Health, states that weight-bearing exercise, like rebounding on a trampoline, helps protect against osteoporosis later in life — a condition that is on the rise in America. "Rebound exercise is "the most efficient and most effective form of exercise yet devised by man… (because) it does not just strengthen the muscles, but it strengthens every single cell of the body, both muscle and non-muscle,” he says.

I can tell you that jumping on the trampoline is easy on my joints because it helps absorb the shock on my feet.

You should know that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission revealed that there were more than 300,000 trampoline injuries in 2018 that required medical treatment. To be fair, over 90% of trampoline injuries are sustained not by adults, but by children mostly between the ages of 5 and 14.

So far, I can tell you that jumping has improved my sleep and has relieved my stress. I look forward to continuing to jump for joy on our new JumpFlex Trampoline.

Feel free to share your thoughts with me: [email protected]

Ashton Graham is an educator, book publisher, photographer, cowgirl and yoga teacher. She is a certified yoga therapist and lives on a ranch in West Texas. Subscribe to her newsletter “Maintaining Balance” www.ashtoncannon.com.