DUBAI: It’s packed with fun to begin with but more importantly it’s a highly effective full-body workout. We are talking about trampolining – also known as rebounding – the latest fitness regimen that has caught the fancy of UAE health freaks.
One look at fitness enthusiasts going about their routine at the Jump Boxx indoor trampoline park in Uptown Mirdif and you will know the exercise has evolved far beyond what you remember from your childhood trampoline fun in the backyard or school playground.
According to Gary Knill, managing director, Jump Boxx: “It can take some time getting used to the routine, but once students get the hang of it, they start enjoying the sessions.”
Rebecca Shanon, a trainee, said: “This workout is far more fun than going to a gym. In fact, I don’t see it as an exercise routine but a fun activity.”
Time to party
Covering 22,000 square feet, Jump Boxx is made up of over 100 interconnecting trampolines and offers visitors an open-jump arena, dodgeball courts, slam dunk hoops, a foam pit and more. Plans are under way to set up a weekly club night called Jump Boxx Beats to cash in on Dubai’s Thursday night party scene.
In February, Beat Diabetes, a community-focused initiative by the Landmark Group, hosted 300 people at the indoor trampoline park as part of a drive to encourage residents to stay healthy.
Edwin Gutierrez, 27, a fitness coach at Jump Boxx, said the event was a huge success. “At first people were unsure how it would all pan out. But once they got in they had a lot of fun.
“Our trampoline park is one of the safest in the world. We have strict rules and regulations that all students have to follow. At any given time, we have six staff on duty overseeing the safety aspects of the park,” added Gutierrez.
Trampoline and floor exercises are done in a circuit format training. “Each level of fitness runs for 10 weeks wherein students go through different levels of rigour. The sessions lasts from 45 minutes to one hour. The class begins with a warm-up, cardio workout, mobility exercises, relays and stretching – one gets a complete workout.”
Charges are Dh699 for 10 sessions.
“We recommend everyone to get a workout once or twice a week,” said Gutierrez.
HEALTH BENEFITS
According to Gary Knill, every rebounding session burns 700 to 1,000 calories. Students must keep their back straight and land flat on their feet. Nobody is allowed to run between the trampoline cubes unless they are asked to do so during a circuit training.
