Rebounding: Low-Impact, High-Reward
44″ Acon Rebounder
If you want to workout smarter, not harder, rebounding is a great option! My usual routine of vintage P90x workouts felt a bit monotonous, so I needed a change. After much research, I decided to make my purchase and jump into this low-impact, high-reward activity called rebounding.
Rebounding, also known as mini trampoline exercise, is a type of low-impact workout that involves jumping on a small trampoline designed for home use. Rebounders are built for controlled bouncing, with a focus on cardiovascular exercise and overall fitness.
Here I’ll share how rebounding has impacted my fitness journey, energy levels, and overall well-being, in addition to using virtual reality (VR) to mix things up even more.
Health Benefits and Easy Cardio
Rebounding is a dynamic exercise option that anyone can embrace, regardless of age or fitness level. It’s ideal for people who are older, or for people dealing with joint issues because it’s low-impact and easy on the joints. Many of the rebounders come with a removable safety bar to hold onto, for those who need extra stability.
- Low-impact: The rebounder absorbs much of the impact, making it easier on your joints.
- Full-body workout: Rebounding engages multiple muscle groups, especially your legs, core.
- Cardiovascular benefits: Jumping on the rebounder gets your heart rate up to improve your cardiovascular health.
- Versatility: There are a variety of rebounding exercises you can do, from basic jumps to more dynamic routines that incorporate upper body movements.
- Lymphatic drainage: Rebounding improves lymphatic drainage, to reduce swelling and excess fluid build-up.
How I Use the Rebounder
I keep it in my home office, so it’s a great reminder for me to hop on whenever I need a break or need a boost in energy. Sometimes, I’ll do a longer session to get my heart rate up, but on most days, I find myself hopping on for short bursts throughout the day.
I personally don’t find it very fun or engaging to just hop around on it by myself, although I do that just to get the blood flowing. You can definitely work out on it while you’re watching a show, but I’ve found it to be most beneficial for me when following along with a rebounder workout routine.
Free Rebounder Workouts
I haven’t found very many options for this, but my current favorite workout is this rebounder workout by Michelle Briehler – it’s a high intensity interval training (HIIT) workout. I also really like Mirna’s rebounder workouts, like this one here.
Benefits I’ve Experienced: Stronger Legs & Cardio
When I am more active throughout the day, whether its through walking or jumping on the trampoline, I tend to sleep a bit better and stay more productive as well. This has not only helped me with my aerobic activity, but it’s been an intense workout for my core and lower body. In addition, I previously struggled to work and build up leg muscles in all the other workouts I do. This has changed that entirely. For the first time in my life, my legs are gaining muscle strength.
Overall, this has helped me to stay motivated to workout and maintain an active lifestyle. I almost forgot to mention that working out is actually fun!
This post may contain affiliate links & I will earn a small commission if you purchase through them. I only promote products that I truly believe in.
Beyond the Rebounder: Adding VR for a Total-Body Workout
The rebounder has become a great addition to my fitness routine. It’s a low-impact way to get in more cardio throughout the day, and it keeps things interesting compared to the traditional workouts. But for those days when I want a full-body unconventional workout, I like to take things a step further.
Quest 2 VR Headset
After a good cardio and leg session on the rebounder, I like to go straight into Supernatural on the Quest 2 (Virtual Reality headset). This VR fitness app Supernatural gives me an amazing arm workout while bringing the cardio up another notch. Supernatural is an immersive fitness game that offers you a fun, engaging workout in beautiful locations. The workout types, intensity and music choices are up to you. What I’ve noticed with this game is that I’m so into hitting my targets that I only feel like I’m playing a game, rather than working out. It’s ideal for people who don’t like to work out in any traditional sense.
I find myself gravitating towards the most challenging pro level workouts, even though I am not a pro myself. Last week’s new workout left my biceps very sore for many, many days. You can get a surprisingly good workout by combining these unconventional methods, plus they’re really fun!
Price for VR and Supernatural
Quest 2 Virtual Reality Headset: Currently $199 on Amazon
They also recently came out with an upgraded version, the Quest 3: Currently $499 on Amazon
- I would personally opt for the cheaper option, unless there are some features you really want from the Quest 3.
- The Quest 3 is priced so high now and there are numerous other PC-connected VR systems that are likely much better.
- I have a PC VR system & the quality is incredible compared to the Quest. The Quest is still a great system though for what I use it for. If you’re really into playing hyper realistic games, then you may want to research PC-connected systems.
Supernatural Game: $10 per month (it used to be $20)
- I hate monthly subscriptions for any service. So, I tend to get it and cancel it from time to time.
- Lately I’ve kept this subscription active as I’ve been using it often.
- I paid for it even when it was $20 a month, but I am so glad they lowered the price.
You can choose from a variety of styles for your workout routine or “game” with Supernatural. I find that I love certain workouts due to the movements or music (or both) and others I highly dislike. So, I recommend searching around and trying different ones out, then saving any favorites. I really like this app for working out, but I am not a fan of certain company practices.
Privacy: If you’re concerned with privacy when it comes to using this VR headset (the company is owned by FB/Meta), then I would recommend creating a “fake” FB/Meta account and using it. That’s what I’ve done. So this would be the account associated with any purchases and any game activity on your VR device.
Product Comparison: Acon 44in vs. the Cheaper Options
When it comes to choosing a rebounder, the market offers a wide range of options in terms of size, features, and price points. In my research, I found that prices for mini trampolines can vary significantly, ranging from budget-friendly models starting at $200 to premium products exceeding $1,000.
Acon 44 Inch Round Rebounder
The Acon 44 inch round rebounder, which I purchased for $330 USD, has proven to be a sturdy and reliable choice for my home workouts. The price varies based on the current sales and coupons. I have a coupon code: HOLLYLIFEDIY for $15 off your purchase as I decided to become an affiliate after using and enjoying their product for months now. The Acon rebounder I bought has a weight limit of 300 lb and a jump surface diameter of 31 in, offering lots of space for a variety of exercises. The cost included a safety bar which adds an extra element of stability for those who need it. The rebounder weighs about 30 pounds.
Leaps and Rebounds Rebounder
In my research, I also considered the Leaps and Rebounds rebounder, which comes in 40in and 48 inch options. While the 40 inch model is currently priced at $210 on Amazon here, they charge an extrathe $80 for the safety bar brings it closer to the Acon 44 inch in terms of pricing. However, with a weight limit of 250 lb and a smaller jump surface diameter of 25 1/2 in, the Leaps and Rebounds rebounder may be better suited for individuals looking for a lighter and more portable option. The weight is important because you’d be surprised how easy/difficult it is to lug one of these around. The weight on the Leaps and Rebounds is about 14 pounds.
BCan Rebounder – A Cheaper Alternative
Since creating videos on this topic, I have discovered another rebounder that is a good option for people and it’s much cheaper than the Acon. It’s by the brand BCan and I am not sure how I missed this when I was doing research. I have one now that I’ve been using for over a month and I love it! You can find the BCan rebounder on Amazon here. The price varies but most often hovers around $100 USD. They often put up $10 off coupons on Amazon and they also put it on sale from time to time for around $85. Even at $100 USD, it’s an incredible deal for what you get (in my humble opinion). This one stands out because it’s foldable, it uses bungees, it weights 22 pounds, and it has a weight limit that is really high at 550 pounds.
BCan Versus the Acon
I’ve noticed a growing interest in rebounding and I’ve been receiving a lot of questions about the differences between the BCan and the Acon. Although there are numerous other companies selling rebounders, these two are growing in popularity. It’s important to know they are very different from each other. I can tell you that the Acon’s bounce is very, very soft – although not as soft as the very pricey Bellicon brand rebounder.
The BCan’s bounce is more firm. If you’re someone who is dealing with joint issues or recovering from an injury or if you’re older and you want something that is softer, more comfortable and easier on the joints – then the Acon is perfect. With saying that, some people need the extra support that comes with a rebounder that is more firm, like the BCan. Even though it’s firm, it’s nothing like running or jumping on the ground with the weight of gravity pulling you down and putting so much strain on your body.
If you’ve never used a rebounder before, then you’ll have nothing to judge the BCan against and I think you’ll love it. Even though I have an Acon which is super soft, and even though I love it and its luxuriously soft bounce – I also love the BCan and I use it equally as much. I tend to switch between the one I am using, just to change things up. I personally feel that when I am using the BCan, it’s easier for me to keep up with workout videos I follow on Youtube. I think the cardio workout I am getting is the same or similar between the BCan and Acon, but I think I am likely working the muscles a bit more with the BCan.
Exciting Research on Rebounding
NASA Study on Rebounding
NASA conducted a study in 1980 that compared the effects of running on a treadmill to jumping on a trampoline. The study aimed to help astronauts combat the loss of bone density and muscle mass experienced in space. The findings revealed that jumping on a trampoline exerted less effort and energy while providing greater work output compared to running on a treadmill.