Press Office

New Fitness Programme Springs into the UK

Date: 06 July, 2005

Esporta has launched the UK's first 'Urban Rebounding' programme.  The programme is being launched at Esporta's Chiswick Riverside club, and if successful could be adopted at other clubs across the UK. 

Urban Rebounding is a new studio-based exercise programme using a mini-trampoline called an Urban Rebounder.  It is already a hugely popular method of training in the USA, with over 3,000 gyms including Gold's, New York Health Clubs, Equinox Group, LA Fitness and Crunch Fitness offering classes.

The programme consists of a cardiovascular workout performed on the Urban Rebounder, which also challenges the participant's balance and coordination.  Routines are structured around eight 'Core Moves' that involve all muscle groups.  These are developed into routines created by the trainer, or following one of 20 set workouts.

NASA Researchi has shown that a 45 minute rebounding workout burns 68% more calories than jogging.  Urban Rebounding also stimulates lymphatic drainage, improving the immune system, and reduces body fat, firming legs, thighs, abdomen, arms and hips.

Mark Talley, group health and fitness manager for Esporta commented:
"Urban Rebounding is an exciting new way of exercising that appeals to all ages, and benefits just about every part of our bodies.  It has already proved itself extremely popular in the USA, and I think it has the potential to be huge in the UK.  We have today begun a pilot of the programme at our Chiswick Riverside club, but if successful we hope to introduce it at other clubs across the country."

Ends

Editors' notes

• The Urban Rebounding programme has been devised over the last six years following several years of research to allow more downward motion when pushing into the Urban Rebounder, thereby increasing the G-Force.  Most standard rebounders are 6 inches high with 1.5 inches of "push".  Urban Rebounders are 9 inches high and have 4.5 inches of "push" available with 36 uniquely calibrated steel springs arranged in an oval pattern to support the "push".
• All classes are taught by qualified trainers, and training courses are accredited by the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPS).
• Pat Mueller, director of recreational sports at the University of Minnesota has declared Urban Rebounding "the exercise of the future".
• Dr Morton Walker has identified 30 health benefits of rebounding, published in the Townsend Letter for Doctors.  Benefits include enhanced digestion, better relaxation, more circulation of oxygen to tissues in the body, and minimised number of colds.
• Urban Rebounding is exclusively brought to the UK by Health2Fitness Ltd.
  i Journal of Applied Physiology 49(5): 881-887, 1980

For further information please contact:
Tom Bowden-Green or Joanna Randall, Corixa Communications, 0117 949 3394
Email: thomas.bowden-green@corixa.co.uk, joanna.randall@corixa.co.uk