We used to have a huge trampoline when we were living in a landed house about 6 years ago. I loved jumping and dancing on it. When Cass was  a baby and was extremely clingy to me (she was a 100% fully breastfed baby), I could not leave the house without bringing her along. I remember she would be on the stroller watching me jump on the trampoline till she fell asleep on most mornings. When we moved to a condo, it broke my heart when the hubs told me that I would have to give the trampoline away.

Recently, we bought a trampoline again! This time, it is a smaller one as the size of our condo only allows for a small-sized trampoline. We place it in the living room, right in front of the TV. It has now become one of our furniture!  The main reason why I bought the trampoline is because of Cass as I was hoping that by exercising and jumping on a trampoline, it can strengthen the muscles of her bladder and the entire urinary tract. You will probably know why if you are a regular reader of my blogs.

BENEFITS OF JUMPING ON TRAMPOLINE:

Bouncing on a trampoline will help your children to a brighter athletic future!
Sundancing – the sport that’s so easy to begin and just impossible to give up, is producing better athletes. Because it improves many areas of co-ordination (such as balance, agility, rhythm, and timing) many athletes practice on a trampoline to enhance their motor skills. Skiers, skaters, divers, gymnasts, and even chearleaders use the trampoline extensively. Whether your children play football, baseball, basketball or tennis, your Sundance will help them sharpen their skills. Who knows, with a Sundance at home your family might produce an Olympic champion.

Recreation, entertainment and fitness right at home.
Today, more and more families are bringing recreation and fitness into their own backyard. Unlike televisions or computers, a Sundance is an excellent form of entertainment that has no added expense or costly maintenance bills. With a trampoline in your own backyard your children will be more active,healthy, and close to home.

Watch your children get better every day…
Everybody loves to bounce! It’s natural! The younger your children start bouncing, the better. In a very short period of time you will be amazed at their new skills and development. Their co-ordination and balance will improve dramatically. While learning these very important skills, your children are having fun-the time of their lives! Also, with regard to safety, children with a good working knowledge of a trampoline are going to be less likely hurt themselves in other activities such as skiing, skating, or even riding a bicycle. They’re going to have better balance and co-ordination and generally a better knowledge of how to protect themselves in other sports if they fall.

WHAT EDUCATIONAL AUTHORITIES SAY ABOUT TRAMPOLINES…
Trampolining can influence child’s academic success.
The trampoline is one of the most helpful training devices for co-ordination and muscle control. Many authorities recognize that a child’s ability to learn depends on his control of movement. Children’s success in movement depends on his understanding and control of his body. Trampolining is recommended for all children, but especially for children with poor co-ordination. Tremendous improvements have been noted in areas of total visual and body control that are necessary for success in the classroom.

One of the most important benefits of the trampoline is the development of body balance.
Bouncing on a trampoline develops skill and proficiency in sensing and maintaining proper balance. When standing on firm ground, one can avoid the problems of balance. But, when rising from the surface of a trampoline, the jumper must locate new and constantly changing centers of gravity.

Another important teaching aspect of the trampoline is rhythm and bilaterally.
When on the trampoline ones left side and right side must bounce in unision, one must maintain a steady body rhythm. Such a rhythm is demanded by few other activities. Using a trampoline forces the brain to function bilaterally, this results in vastly improved bilateral motor skill development.

A trampoline is the best product in the world for the development of co-ordination and balance.
Bouncing on a trampoline will bring about almost unbelievable changes in co-ordination and development. A child with poor coordination benefits dramatically, but every child will gain co-ordination that carries over to every physical activity. Every child will benefit more from this than all the bicycles and tricycles manufactured.

One school for autistic children has now included 14 of our indoor mini trampolines in its teaching program. The teachers have found this activity helps the students’ to settle down and focus in the classroom.

Trampolining is good for children who are reluctant to begin physical activities.
Trampolining is easy and offers immediate success and accomplishment. It gives a feeling of exhilaration and motivates them to try harder. Everyone gains courage and self-confidence. Everybody wins! For children the fascination never wears off because there is always a new skill or trick to learn.

Bouncing or Jumping on a trampoline is a Cellular Exercise
Your body has about 60 trillion cells. The 2 to 4 G forces (gravitational pull) involved in bouncing squeezes out toxins. Then, during the brief weightless period when the body is suspended in the air, the lower pressure in the cell promotes the movement of nutrients into the cells. Thus the flow of materials to and from cells is improved. It is like getting every cell in your body to exercise.

Cardiovascular Fitness

Exercising on the trampoline lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease in 3 ways:
By strengthening the legs so that they act as an auxiliary pump for the cardiovascular system. This lessens the strain on the heart.
The increased pulse rate strengthens the heart.The strengthening of both the voluntary and involuntary muscular system makes the entire system work more efficiently.

Increases Lymphatic Circulation
The body’s lymphatic system is a network of vessels that transports nutrients and drains toxin products from tissues. It does not contain its own pumping mechanism and relies on external pressure including breathing and muscular contraction to propel its contents through a system of one-way lymphatic valves. Trampoline use helps the lymphatic system eliminate toxins by increasing the gravitational pull as you bounce.

Here’s how it works:
At the bottom of the bounce when the gravitational force is greatest, the valves are closed and toxins are squeezed out from between the cells. As the body bounds up, valves are still closed, toxins are loosened from the cells and nutrients are passed from lymph to the cells. At the height of the bounce the body is weightless, and the valves are open. As the body descends, fluid flows. Toxins are sucked out and away from the cells, then eliminated by the lymph system. This vastly increases one’s level of health.

Increased Bone Density
Bone, like muscle, can become stronger from moderate physical stress. Studies have shown that those who exercise at least three times a week have a higher bone mineral content. Improving your bone density aids to reduce the chance of debilitating fractures and deformities associated with osteoporosis.

This Low Impact Exercise takes the jarring out of jogging
The main disadvantage of jogging is the physical stress on lower limbs and feet. Using the trampoline takes up to 80% off the stress of your weight-bearing joints. Using a rebounder (a small trampoline) is a wonderful option for everyone, especially seniors or anyone recuperating from accidents or injuries. It’s also excellent exercise for those who have been sedentary and are starting an exercise program.