Rebounding is proven to be a better exercise than running. Which may surprise you just as much as it did the NASA scientists who first proved it. 

More recent studies have not only confirmed that bouncing on a mini-trampoline is significantly superior to running for reaching target heart rates, increasing cardio strength and engaging muscles, but that it also reduces fat 50% faster. And even though bouncing burns more energy than running, the subjects felt it was less fatiguing, and would exercise longer while jumping. Of course, being a very low-impact exercise, it also avoids the strain on knees, joints and cartilage that runner’s experience. In short, rebounding surpasses running…by leaps and bounds.

Read more about this study

Aerobic exercise (also known as cardio) is relatively low-intensity physical exercise that depends primarily on the aerobic energy-generating process. Aerobic literally means “living in air” and refers to the use of oxygen to adequately meet energy demands during exercise via aerobic metabolism. Where sufficiently supported by aerobic metabolism, light to moderate intensity activities can generally be performed for extended periods of time. The intensity should be between 60 and 85 percent of maximum heart rate.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerobic_exercise

Of course, we love professional athletes’ enthusiasm for the bellicon®. But for us, seeing people of all ages get excited about exercise is what it’s all about.

For everyone not going for gold, it’s precisely the moderate, regular physical activity that’s so much fun on a bellicon® that’s best for you. As a recent Duke University study shows, this kind of lower-intensity workout is just what the doctor ordered for getting into shape, lowering blood pressure and sugar levels as well as burning excess body fat and keeping cholesterol under control. So you don’t have to push yourself to the limits to reach your health goals. In fact, you don’t even need to take your pulse to check you’re not overdoing it – being able to hold a conversation is just as good an indicator.

These findings are right in line with the British and American Heart Associations’ recommended 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic exercise, divided into sessions of at least ten minutes and ideally spread throughout the week.

This really comes down to what we at bellicon have always believed – exercising should be the happy part of your day.

How far can you take your training on a bellicon®? The answer is all the way. The UK’s Darren Barker did – and became the International Boxing Federation middleweight world champion. Since boxing is the definition of tough – pushing the limits of strength, agility, speed and endurance – no one can doubt the serious side to the light-hearted fun of rebounding on a bellicon®.

Watch the video to find out about the revolutionary training methods Darren’s coach Wayne Leal used to get him there.