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Jumping into the Bounce trampoline universe

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Whether you’re into extreme aerobatics, getting fit, or just having fun, a trampoline park is the place to go
Whether you’re into extreme aerobatics, getting fit, or just having fun, a trampoline park is the place to go
Leon Sadiki

Now look, my problem with exercising is this: I hate it. I don’t know how else to put it. Take treadmills, for instance. Instead of jogging joyously, ponytail flying and forehead perspiring gracefully, I start thinking about how much I feel like a hamster on a wheel, and how life is very much like that, sometimes, and why are we even here if we’re all just going to die anyway?

Yes, these are the challenges I face when exercising.

But the truth is that I know that exercising is extremely important. And also, I want abs of steel. Oh, the agony.

That’s why my interest was piqued when I read that a trampoline park called Bounce had opened up in the Waterfall Lifestyle Centre in Midrand. Trampoline parks are nothing new, having been in Australia and the US for years, but Bounce SA is officially the first on the continent.

“Bounce is a world where the wall becomes the floor, a slam dunk is within your grasp and the rules of gravity no longer apply,” said the edgy-looking press release.

Hmmm, I might not absolutely, unequivocally hate this, I thought. And since #Trending had this Summer Body edition coming up, I gave it a go.

As I entered the huge, rugby field-sized Bounce facility on a surprisingly hot Thursday in July, it was a mass of children and teens. I almost walked right out again, but Nicolle Weir, the co-founder of Bounce SA, assured me this was due to school holidays, and Bounce was totally geared towards adults too.

After receiving some cool slip-proof socks (which you get to keep after your session, by the way), I was teamed up with a young instructor.

With a bemused photographer tagging along, off we went. Now let me tell you, Bounce is more than your mom’s aerobics trampoline gathering dust in your garage. The space is huge, and there are more than 100 interconnected trampolines where you can jump, shoot hoops, bounce off the wall, launch yourself into a giant poof called “the big bag” or even try your hand at dodgeball.

I am told that 10 minutes on a trampoline is equivalent to 30 minutes on a treadmill. I didn’t believe it either, but within five minutes of trying to shoot hoops off the first tramp, I was sweating like a police minister delivering an Nkandla report.

It’s a deep kind of cardio, and because you’re holding yourself up on the trampoline, you’re constantly working your core.

After the basketball area, I was taken to the dodgeball court. Here it was decided I would play against the 12-year-olds. Dodgeball is simple: hit someone with a ball and they’re out; if they catch it you’re out, and vice versa.

The 12-year-olds hit me out in a matter of minutes, but it turned out to be great fun. This is the type of thing you can take your friends to and have a raucous and competitive time doing. And while you’re ducking, throwing and catching balls, you’ll be getting in some cardio.

After an hour of shooting hoops, trying to bounce off the wall, balancing on a beam strung over a trampoline and launching myself into the big bag, I was happy, giggly and extremely sweaty. And best of all, it didn’t feel like exercise. No boredom, no torment and no thoughts of hamsters.

Bounce is a little pricy – R100 for younger kids (or people under 110cm in height) and R140 for adults for a single hour. This is for a “general bounce” ticket, where you have access to the entire park and can try out the trampolines at your own pace.

If you are interested in bouncing for exercise, Bounce Fit is for you. There are 45-minute, high-intensity, low-impact cardio classes on offer, which promise to blast your core, improve all-over muscle tone and lift your heart rate. These cost R100 a class, or you can buy a multivisit pass for five or 10 classes at a much-reduced rate.

Booking is essential. Book and pay online before you go at bounceinc.co.za

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