How many times have you imagined yourself doing gravity-defying stunts in mid-air like an action hero? The only safety net is a harness attached to shield your ribs or a chord tied around your waist from the ceiling. Better still, you may twist and turn your body or jump and bounce like a seasoned acrobat with a silken rope while performing an aerial act. All these magical movements are part of a bungee workout class that you may enrol in.
Take a new-age leap towards fitness with a heavy-duty bungee routine! It combines resistance training with skilful motion aided by a bungee chord affixed to a harness, girdling the gym freaks who sweat it out religiously every day. The kinetic movements of bouncing and jumping enhance balance and coordination, better cardiovascular health, spur flexibility, burn calories, accelerate the heart rate by easing blood circulation and so on.
Benefits
Bungee workouts are a fun and effective way to stay active. One big plus is that it’s great for mobility to strengthen. The bungee cord relieves joint stress and simplifies complex movements.
“Bungee is a low-impact fitness routine, ideal for athletes looking to build a lithe body with brawns and core strength without much strain. You can switch between resistance and fast-paced exercises to check the calorie count. Regular resistance training piles up muscles and tones the body,” informs Panday.
Scope for All
Apart from sportspersons, callisthenic entertainers and skilled acrobats, a regular person can resort to bungee exercises to reap gains from the same.
Individuals seeking a fresh and exhilarating way to stay in shape are frequently drawn towards bungee fitness classes. Not only does this workout plan spice up one’s fitness routine but also provides him/her with a safe alternative for joint issues or injuries. Bungee fitness is thus suitable for beginners with full-body workouts on offer.
Advice to Avoid
Those with wounds or having recently undergone the surgical knife may skip bungee workouts. The same goes for pregnant women as the bungee harness around the waist makes it unsafe for the expecting mothers.
Doctor’s Directive
It is better to exercise caution and consult a physician before signing up for any new type of fitness or exercise programme if one suffers from any ailment. Some restrictions specific to fling bungee fitness include pregnancy, any recent operation, and a weight reading of less than 90 lbs (pounds) or above 240 lbs among others.
Health Watch
Individuals on heavy medication and with certain health conditions or physical limitations should press the alert mode and abstain from bungee fitness. This includes people with vertigo, high blood pressure, heart maladies or recent surgeries, particularly involving the back or joints.
Women carrying should also discuss with their healthcare providers whether to participate in bungee fitness activities.
Age Bar
Children of 13-14 years can do bungee workouts as a single participant only in the presence of their parents/guardians or they could opt for a private session in groups or join an institute holding regular classes on bungee exercises. The weight limit applies to kids too.
Tweens or pre-teens aged 10-12 can attend a private class under parental observation or caregivers’ guidance conforming to the minimum and maximum weight limits.
Weight & Height
We recommend individuals weigh 300 pounds or less to participate in a bungee class.
The minimum ceiling height recommended for bungee fitness is 8 feet. The ideal measurement is 10-12 feet. A standard bungee fitness set is fit for 8 ft-14.5 ft ceilings. The height is adjustable by using a sling and daisy chains.
Equipment
Each bungee fitness set comes with a thick and durable bungee cord, swivel and extension straps.
The primary equipment includes a harness similar to those used in climbing and a bungee cord designed to support varying weights as well as provide different resistance levels.
The choice of harness and the bungee cord is critical as it must match the participant's weight and fitness level to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the workout.
While installing the ceiling hook, ensure using a strong overhead mounting point in a room with a minimum ceiling height of 8 feet. Once the bungee exercise equipment is successfully set up, make sure to have enough floor space to stand flat-footed and then perform those seemingly complicated exercises as well as elastic-supported resistance training.
For some extra bounce and resistance, consider adding two bungee cords.
Not so Demanding
The Bungee fitness regime emerged in the early 2010s as a unique substitute for conventional workout methods, aiming to offer enjoyable and exciting ways to lift one’s physical health. Over the years, its appeal has broadened into a household name as well as a popular choice to infuse fun into one’s fitness routine, which otherwise requires immense body power, muscle force and mental stamina, yet reaping substantial health benefits at the same time.
Exercises
Bungee workout blends cardiovascular exercises with resistance training using bungee cords or bands for high-intensity movements that can augment strength, flexibility and balance.
Classic bodyweight moves: Squats, lunges, push-ups, planks, crunches, bicep curls and glute bridges
Jumping: Jumping higher and repeating or jumping while in a squat position
Dance-inspired moves: Zumba classes that incorporate merengue, salsa, cumbia, reggaeton and hip-hop
Plyometric movements: Burpees and other movements that mix jumping with strength exercises
