The idea that exercise should be torture is outmoded at best. There’s no reason not to have fun while getting your heart pumping: put on a virtual reality headset while sweating on a stationary bike, track your workout progress against that of a friend, buy a game that gets you off the couch, or simply discover your inner bunny and trampoline your way to fitness.
Especially when trying to sculpt your butt and legs, an ordinary backyard trampoline can do wonders for your body. Nor does it have to feel like hard work: there’s something about defying gravity that appeals to the inner child in all of us. Once exercise becomes a pastime rather than a chore, it’s that much easier to keep at it and achieve the fitness gains that come only with consistent effort.
The Best Trampoline Exercises for Sculpting Your Legs and Butt
It’s no secret that taut, shapely legs are incredibly attractive, regardless of whether you’re a man or a woman. They also make daily life a lot easier whenever you’re moving a wardrobe or have to take the stairs. Getting a pair like that takes time, but it’s by no means difficult.
The Simple Bounce
Not the most exciting trampoline exercise out there, this is nonetheless effective at toning your legs and butt. It also gives newcomers to this kind of workout a chance to adjust to the motion.
You’ll find that simply going up and down engages your legs’ stabilizer muscles. This is a great way to get visible muscle definition relatively quickly.
Tuck Jump
Good for your thighs and your stomach muscles alike, tuck jumps are a logical progression from simply hopping in place. Once you’ve gained some height, crisply pull your knees into your chest before straightening (but not locking!) your legs for the landing. You can also tuck one leg at a time, alternating sides.
Jumping Jacks
Though often thought of as mostly an aerobic workout, this exercise engages all three glute muscles (i.e. your butt), your hip flexors as well as your quadriceps. Doing jumping jacks on a trampoline instead of the hard floor is much gentler on your knees and doesn’t require nearly as much coordination.
Scissors
This is a great exercise for beginners as it simulates the natural motion of walking, yet can be much more intense than simply ambling along the sidewalk. Remember to land with your knees slightly bent, keep your hips square, and swing your arms only as much as you need to maintain your balance.
Squat Jumps
Normal air squats are already a great way to tone your legs and butt. Using a bouncing motion on a trampoline simply magnifies your body weight without placing unreasonable strain on your knees: doing 25 bouncy squat jumps is way harder than 50 air squats.
As your legs rather than the mat absorb most of your landing energy, you won’t go as high as you’d think. If you’re concerned about actually falling off your trampoline, you probably just need one with a sturdy safety net for additional confidence.
Time to Hop to It
Though most people see their backyard trampolines as a source of entertainment, you’d be hard-pressed to find another piece of exercise equipment as versatile as this. Buying a set of kettle bells and a speed rope instead can net you many of the benefits of joining a gym, but consider the following:
- Many trampolining exercises give you a strength and cardio workout at the same time. According to scientific metrics, bouncing is almost 50% better than treadmill running for aerobic exercise.
- Gradual, cushioned impacts are way easier on your joints and muscles, reducing the chance of injuries and stiff, sore limbs.
- This kind of motion also stimulates your lymphatic system, helping to rid your body of toxins and improving your resistance to disease.
- Jumping on a trampoline improves your balance, joint mobility and coordination. If attempting the above exercises leaves you flouncing around like a rag doll, that alone is a good reason to persist with them.
All in all, when you buy a sturdy trampoline like the Zupapa, you’ll be able to enjoy for years what is an excellent investment in your health. Nearly everyone can use it either for pleasure or exercise, making it a great purchase for any family with a backyard.
The only thing left to do is to select the trampoline that best meets your needs – once you’re bitten by the bouncing bug, you may find that a cheaper model just isn’t all you need.