Bernhard Racz

As children, to find a springy bed and jump up and down on it felt like you were “jumping for joy”! This simple activity, happy as it was, stimulated and exercised every cell in the body - nearly all 75 trillion of them. We now know that it also strengthens the cardiovascular system and pumps the lymph system in ways no other exercises ever do.
Start “jumping up and down,” or, bouncing on a rebounder (a mini-trampoline), which is easy to do with little effort; even the elderly can easily and happily do rebounding. Centenarian Bob Hope said, “I keep my rebounder at the foot of my bed and use it daily”. See more about the Rebounder in the Natural Living - Virtual Marketplace section of the Natural Cures website.

The American Institute of Reboundology, Inc. lists over 33 ways the body benefits from rebounding. The one feature of rebounding that sets it apart from all other exercises is that half of the time you use it, you are not opposing gravity! When you are bounced upward by the springs and mat of the rebounder, your body is not being pulled by gravity. Because of this action each cell in the body and brain receives a “positive” stress, a “gentle squeezing at the bottom of the bounce,” which pulls toxins out, and cells become stronger. When you rebound, you are helping your cells metabolize, cleanse and renew, and you are helping your lymph system to pump and drain out the body’s waste.

It is our lymphatic system that is interactive with every organ and is directly related to the immune function and efficiency. It is a protector and a defense mechanism against infection, viruses, bacteria, fungi and disease. It is comprised of fluid, vessels, ducts and various other organs and structures. It clears toxins, wastes, excess fluids, and infection from all tissues of the body through proper flow and drainage, provided this essential system is functioning at its peak. Mention the heart or the cardiovascular system and most people have a pretty good idea of what it is and how it functions. But, although the lymphatic system is vitally important to our health, most people don’t understand it, and some have not even heard of it. (Refer to Chapter 6 of the Natural Cures book).

The lymphatic system is connected to every organ of the body. It is the garbage collector, the internal vacuum cleaner sucking up metabolic garbage, toxins and excess fluid from the extracellular fluid of every organ. Many people have badly congested lymphatics and don’t even know it. In our country, the lymphatic system is the most overlooked system of the human body. In Europe, stimulation of the lymph flow is the fourth most commonly prescribed medical treatment. Most U.S. healthcare practitioners seldom consider the lymphatic system’s critical role in preventing illness or its importance to the overall healing process. Some of the organs that are part of the lymphatic system are lymph nodes and lymph veins, the tonsils, adenoids, appendix and the spleen, and you know what happens to those parts of the body whenever surgeons get close to them. Swollen glands, with which most of us are familiar, are symptomatic of blocked lymph nodes, indicating a breakdown in the mechanical functioning of the lymphatic system. Rebound exercise is so efficient in stimulating the lymph flow that it has been called “Lymphocizing”.

It is a fact that you cannot be healthy with a poor lymph flow. It is a fact that you cannot be healthy without exercising regular. And, rebounding is the only exercise known that once again, exercises nearly all 75 trillion cells, provides the least amount of stress to the joints, and is convenient to use 3 to 5 times per day. It’s fun for everyone; adults, seniors, and kids. Just 5 minutes, 3 times a day will keep the doctor away. And, you don’t have to yell at the children, “Stop jumping on the rebounder”! — Let’s all “jump for joy”. Check back next week for part two of Rebounding Jump for Joy.

When you rebound lightly, as in the ‘health bounce’ (all you do in the health bounce is stand on the mat and lightly lift your heels up and down, and the rebounder mat and springs do the bounce for you - you don’t even have to lift your feet off the mat), you strengthen your body’s immune system (the rebound action increases your white blood cell count temporarily), promote cellular repair, attain absolute potential of cells, circulate more oxygen to the tissues, reduce arterial pressure, increase production of red blood cells, improve transmission of nerve impulses, obtain relief from headaches and neck and back pain, increase mental performance, slow aging… and so much more.

It is especially healing for the ankles, knees and low back, without the shock of regular exercise. Scientists at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) cited rebounding as being 68% more efficient than regular running exercises. And, it is more playful than it is a job of exercise. All other exercises - running, tennis, swimming, weight training, fitness exercises - are done on the horizontal plane. In rebounding, “every cell of the body is being stimulated by the forces of acceleration, deceleration and gravity”. And, you don’t have to exert yourself to get these benefits. The eldest of the elderly can do this, as well as the handicapped person, and the arthritic. Yes, rebounding is excellent even for those with arthritis. It is important to find ways to move and circulate energy through the joints, as joints themselves do not have their own ability to circulate or flush through veins or the lymph system, the way that organs do. They need extra help to flush and cleanse, so rebounding is a perfect solution. Bouncing is a painless, easy way to move excess waste and toxins out of inflamed joints; it flushes the lymphatic system as it helps move toxic substances and dead white blood cells out of the joints. During bouncing, the by-products from white blood cells are immediately flushed out before they can form new waste by-products. When the inflammation subsides, gentle motion exercises with all the joints help re-establish painless movement.

Osteoporosis is another condition that can be helped, as bones become stronger when they are used, and the cells take in more minerals with use of the bones (exercise). Even where osteoporosis is already present, a gradual program of rebounding, starting slowly, can help build bone density. Other conditions that have been improved or healed are: varicose veins, overweight, sagging, bagging and wrinkling, and many other conditions of aging and disabilities. Yes, you can rebound even with handicaps, gently or with the help of a buddy, sitting, kneeling or standing!

Rebounding can also be used in more assertive ways: as an aerobic exercise and for gaining strength; in fact, weight training is enhanced by rebounding. You can even hold light weights while rebounding. There is greater fat metabolism, muscle definition and improved strength and endurance as a result of rebounding with weight training. Rebounding helps flush the lactic acids from stressed muscles.

Rebounders come in a wide range of quality and price. For self-protection,