If you’re following me on social media (the green creator), you might have noticed that I’m often dancing and jumping on loud music. I’m actually jumping on a rebounder. Also, you might have noticed that the rebounder that I use doesn’t produce any noise (annoying creaking) at all. Recently I have been spending quite some time jumping on the bellicon rebounder and I need to share my experience with bellicon with you. And why bother jumping on a rebounder in the first place?
I’m not paid to write this article, this is my own experience with bellicon. This article was published in 2016 and in 2021 I received (and use) an European affiliate link for bellicon products mentioned.
Read here my follow-up article (2021): ”Rebounding for Fitness”
What is bellicon?
The bellicon is a small rebounder/trampoline that is very popular for example in rehabilitation centers. Also, it’s widely used by the elderly, hospitals and physiotherapists. It’s in fact not a burden for your joints, but a very good workout for your muscles. Because let’s be honest, if jumping on a rebounder is safe enough for NASA, it’s also good for the elderly / vulnerable among us, right?
Ok, so it’s not a burden for your joints, it’s low impact and therefore ideal for the elderly. And that’s where this entire rebounder story stopped. However, in the last couple of years there has been a change. To be honest, I have been following this ” rebounder trend ” for some years, but the abundance of information (which rebounder?) kept me from taking the leap…
The facts
Rebounding is not only an exercise for the muscles and the heart, it’s the ONLY form of exercise that works on all cells. Mr. Albert. E. Carter explains this very well. According to Mr. Albert (an authority in the field of rebounding and author of the book “The New Miracles of Rebound Exercise
Gravity
If you think about it, all exercises (cardio / muscle) exist with the use of gravity. A push-up, for example, is a matter of your body against the force of gravity. If you often enough expose your muscles to gravity and resistance, your muscles will grow stronger. Where are muscles made of? Cells. These cells only get stronger, because gravity and resistance have an effect on each cell. The cell must always respond and that makes them stronger. This process naturally affects the whole body. In other words, if you train your cells you will become stronger and fit. What does this have to do with jumping on a rebounder? Well, quite a lot.
Around the beginning of 1900 Albert Einstein came up with a new theory about the power of acceleration, deceleration and gravity. To make a long story short, jumping on a rebounder is the only way of exercise that by acceleration, deceleration and gravity effect all cells.
With each jump you make your muscles, heart, tendons, nerves and bones stronger.
What surprised me most is that you can build muscles on a rebounder. However, the reviews are very clear on this and I noticed myself that my arms and abs got stronger.
Oxygen
“NASA discovered that rebounding is about 68% more efficient than running or jogging.” Cellular exercises are a good way to do your cardio exercises. Just as a comparison; ten minutes of rebounding is the equivalent of about 30 minutes of skiing. And jumping is quite effective, because you’ve probably already heard that ten minutes of jumping ropes can be compared to thirty minutes of running. Rebounding is however also a cellular exercise and safer for the joints. It also provides more oxygen to the lungs and a stronger heart.
When you’re using oxygen efficiently with a cellular exercise it’s an excellent way to burn fat for fuel. As I mentioned earlier rebounding affects every cell in the body and the amount of oxygen in the cells. And oxygen is life. A lack of oxygen in the body is the beginning of discomfort and diseases.
Immunity and the lymphatic system
Out of the over 70 trillion cells in the body, there are 7 trillion immune specific. Therefore, the immune system makes 1% of the body. It is the natural defense system of the body against foreign invaders such as viruses and bacteria. Exercise boosts the immune system.
What we don’t realize is that the lymphatic system is an essential part of the immune system. Many immune cells can be found in both the blood and lymphatic system (liquid). The lymphatic system is a network of vessels and lymph nodes that run throughout the body. It transports lymph fluid and eliminates waste. The lymphatic system influences each and every cell and organ of the body and is the core of our immune system. Actually, you could say that you need a clean lymphatic system to stay healthy and prevent diseases, so your immune cells can react efficiently and effectively.
However, there is a little problem. The lymphatic system has no pump like the heart. The heart pumps blood through the body, but there is no ” lymphatic pump”. You will need to do something to pump the lymphatic system so that it can get rid of toxins that can cause diseases.
But how? This can be done by motion, gravity, and massages. A cellular exercise does it all. Rebounding is therefore the best way to stay fit and healthy. You jump out all the harmful wastes from your cells. This will also help you to keep the fluids in your lymphatic system clean, making it easier to get oxygen, water and nutrients to the cells.
These are the advantages in a nutshell that I read in two very interesting books (and a whole lot of YouTube videos) . The book ”The New Miracles of Rebound Exercise”
Is it difficult?
It just depends on how difficult you make it. If you are older or you have physical issues, you might want to stick to the healthy bounce (light up and down moving on the mat without your feet leaving the mat). I write from my personal experience (without any physical limitations) and I found it hard to just do the healthy bounce. The first time on the bellicon you start to smile and you feel like a kid again. And what do kids do? They jump! Rebounding makes you produce those great happy hormones such as serotonin and endorphins. I always leave the bellicon cheerful, full of energy, relaxed and with a straight posture. Rebounding is certainly not difficult, because you can make it as difficult as you wish. You’ll notice though that over time you are less afraid to try more moves. How difficult (and dangerous) rebounding is further depends on the rebounder. I’ve heard quite a few stories of injuries and broken metal springs followed by months of physical therapy all because of the use of a rebounder worth less than 40 euros. There is also the problem of the metal springs that really produce an annoying sound and can break loose …. But then there is the bellicon!
Why bellicon?
You can probably guess why. The number one reason why I choose the bellicon (also known as the Rolls-Royce among rebounders) is because this rebounder has no nasty metal springs but instead soft bungees. Also you can order the bungees that you need (softer or more tight) depending on your weight and wishes. There are different models so if you live small you can still rebound. That’s all you need. Jumping on the bellicon is very low impact so I jump barefoot or on my socks, so there’s no fuss about what shoes I need. You can also make it an intense fitness device by choosing stronger elastics (I would recommend to wear sport shoes then).
How do I start?
The first day I started with the healthy bounce, just a few minutes. I was a bit afraid to do more, although I really wanted to jump high. A few days later I was less afraid on the bellicon and I started jumping. I also wanted to have some sort of training (structure) so I followed this short video that I found on the bellicon website.
As a beginner I really enjoyed the ” bellicon® 15 minute workout ”. You can leave it there and jump of the bellicon, but I couldn’t get enough. After a short online workout the fun part was to begin! I put on my favorite music (loud) and started dancing to the beat. So much fun! When it comes to sports, I’m picky and easily bored (unless it’s walking), but on the bellicon I easily jump (dance) more than an hour on my favorite music.
When it comes to the ”moves”, there are so many variations possible. I love jumping high. I love jumping jacks a lot (not my favorite without the bellicon), because they’re pure pleasure on the bellicon (I kid you not!). Twists are great for my waistline, jumping a bit lower to the beat feels amazing … I can’t get enough of it. You can also do ”floor exercises” on the bellicon like squats, sit ups and push ups, but I honestly became fitter and more toned without these type of floor exercises.
My experience after two months of jumping ….
Jumping on the bellicon is not comparable to any other form of exercise. Not only because of the scientific facts, but also because of how I feel. After jumping over an hour I never have muscle pain for example. Even muscle pain held off. I stand up straight and feel super happy!
- I thought I would only detoxify my cells and that I would work on my legs, but surprisingly my stomach and arms were the first one to become more toned.
- I thought I would fall off the bellicon or that I would be fed up after a little while, but something magical happens when you start to jump.
- If you’re familiar with the ”runners high” (which feels great), you will love the bellicon. If I jump a little higher, I feel the same sensation as when I would hit the runners high. Perhaps this is very personal, but I definitely noticed it!
- What I didn’t expect the bellicon to be is a stress reliever. When jumping you have to concentrate on your balance, which ensures you can’t think of work or laundry.
I sincerely hope that this fitness trend will not fade, because rebounding REALLY is the healthiest (and most fun) thing you can do for your body. Perhaps you can find a class in your neighborhood? If you decide to buy a bellicon, don’t hesitate to drop me a message so I can help you choose the right bellicon that suits you best.
Have you ever done a rebounding workout?
