In der Presse

23. April 2012 – Glamour (Vereinigte Staaten)

3 Cool Ways to Bring At-the-Gym Workouts to YOU

I love learning about the newest ways of working out--whether the methods are crazy-good or just plain crazy. Do you? But there are days I'd just as rather stay home from the gym.

There are obviously tons of creative ways you can work out at home--DVDs, running around your house, standing on one leg. Here are a few others to add to the list:

1: Trampolining
I've wanted to try a trampolining class for just about ever. The problem? No classes near me, boo. Besides the insane fun that comes with boinging around for an hour, it's also an amazing workout choice: a study in the Journal of Applied Psychology has shown that just 10 minutes of trampoline jumping is equal to the health benefits of running for than 30 minutes. Also, trampolining is also supposed to be low-impact and gentler on your knees. Experts from Springfree Trampoline (who make the crazy-awesome trampoline above) say that you can get a great workout at home on your own, performing simple muscle-strengthening moves like jumping jacks or tucks, where you pull your legs into your chest during the jump.

2: ElliptiGO
Is it an elliptical trainer? Is it a bike? It's both, kind of! If the at-gym ellipticals have one big fault, it's that they don't actually go anywhere. This little machine does--while seriously engaging your core muscles (which you have to do to keep from falling over), burning calories, and going easy on your joints at the same time.

3: Juggling
It's not exactly a standard-issue class at every gym, but JuggleFit is a real workout that's all about--you guessed it--juggling. Why? Well, check out these health benefits: it helps improve coordination, strengthens your core, aids in warding off stress, and a study in Nature magazine even found that learning how to juggle could help build brain matter. Oh, and it also burns 280 calories an hour. Neat.

What's your favorite at-home workout? Is there a class at your gym that you'd like to replicate--in some fashion--at home?

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23. August 2011 – Huffington Post (Vereinigte Staaten)

'Jump' Into a New Routine

How many times have you told your kids to go and jump on the trampoline? Many times, if you have one, because kids typically love to jump on trampolines and it is a great way for them to get their wiggles out. It also works great for attitude adjustments when my kids are acting up, however jumping on a trampoline can be equally if not more beneficial for grownups. If you remember back to the days of junior high for the gymnastics section, we all got to learn the basics of jumping on a trampoline. Seat drop, knee drop, belly drop and, if you were daring, a back drop. Gymnastics was my favorite part of PE, so when I was the fitness correspondent for the Today show I did a segment on trampoline jumping. It was amazing to find out all the health benefits that one could gain by just jumping up and down. Out of all the different aerobic exercises, jumping on a rebounder or a trampoline that sits in the back yard, is one of the most efficient forms of exercise yet devised by man.

The improvements that people can experience when they jump over a period of time can include: an increase in muscular strength, improved posture, balance and coordination, improvement in the blood, lungs and all the internal organs, weight loss and an overall sense of well-being. Jumping on a trampoline literally sounded like the fountain of youth to me. The reason is quite simple: because it puts gravity to work for you with the least amount of muscular effort. Regular exercise of jumping up and down where you rebound can jiggle your entire metabolism.

Growing in popularity are "air-obics" classes that are performed entirely on a trampoline and facilities like jumpskyhigh.com have wall-to-wall trampolines that host classes, birthday parties or just the opportunity to go and jump. In some cases you might burn up to 1,000 calories an hour in a jump aerobics class. However, jumping on a trampoline or a rebounder doesn't go without risk. It is imperative to have a net around your trampoline. Many kids and adults have experienced some horrific accidents when they fall off the sides. Springfree Trampoline is the trampoline that I have at my home and the one I used on the Today show. It is assembled with the net so that there is no chance of someone falling off. Your rebounder must also be placed in a location without any sharp objects or furniture around. Make sure each time the legs are in properly as well as the springs to insure a safe jumping environment.

I can't say enough about jumping. It is amazing for your body -- not to mention the fun factor. I always have a smile from ear to ear when I head out to my trampoline. As a celebrity trainer, I found that adding in a round of seat drops and swivel hips gave a one-of-a-kind workout to such stars like Kim Basinger and Jennifer Lopez.

Get out there and start jumping! As I watch the sun set on my backyard, the trampoline is calling my name. A quick five-minute blast of calories? I am on it. Check out my jumping skills on both the Springfree and the mini rebounder on the clip. I also wanted to add one of my favorites videos of some other people who like to jump. Why not let everyone get a little healthier?

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16. Juli 2011 – North Jersey (Vereinigte Staaten)

Dedicate an area of your yard just for play

Swings, slides, summer! Every homeowner with children knows how important it is to have a play area in the backyard.

This fun area usually consists of any items that allow children to slide, bounce, swing and climb. Most playsets today have swings, slide and rock walls, and, for children aged 4 and older, the trampoline.

Before you start bringing in all these items, though, put some thought into the overall design of your yard. This will help you choose the best spot for playing.

Location, Location, Location

Finding the best location in the yard for the play equipment is the first thing a homeowner should determine.

According to Richard R. Cording, a landscape designer at CLC Design Landscaping, Inc. (clcdesign.com), Ringwood, there are three things to consider when creating play space for the kids:

* Convenient location. "You need a visual line of sight from the adult space," said Cording, explaining that it’s important for adults to always be able to watch their children. And the area should not be fenced in or enclosed by shrubbery — "In case a child falls, you can run over there and help."

* Good drainage. "The area should have no drainage problems where water sits for 12 hours after a storm," said Cording. There are safety issues with stagnant water, as well as mess issues of kids playing in mud, then bringing mud into the home. If the area designated for play is low, "we’ll bring in soil and raise the play area to make it a well-draining location," he said.

* Privacy from neighbors. "I always mention that the play structure is a way for privacy. We can locate the set in a way that gives privacy from neighbors," said Cording. Although not as solid as a fence, the play sets — especially those that include solid-wood clubhouses — are "convenient ways to screen something you want to screen."

Other Advice for the Area

* Know the size. Homeowners should know the exact measurements of the play equipment they want to bring in. "I cherish the moment the structures are already on the site, so I can design the area with exact dimensions," said Cording. Otherwise, a homeowner will usually underestimate the size of the structures and the play area created will be too small.

* Natural mulch or rubber?

Some homeowners like to put rubber mulch under the play structures to lessen the impact of children’s falls. This actually is made of ground-up tires and comes in a variety of colors.

Rubber mulch also is convenient because it’s a one-time installation.

"It won’t decompose like wood mulch," said Cording. "However, if you put rubber mulch in a sunny area, it gets very hot for the children. It also smells like rubber."

Because of the reviews he’s heard from homeowners who have the rubber, he advises installing it in shady areas.

Now, Let’s Have Some Fun

What, exactly, does the play area of the yard consist of? Nowadays, the choices are endless.

* Playsets. Besides the standard swings and slide, today’s playsets consist of rock walls, ladders, forts, tire swings and, for children in the 6- to 9-year-old range, monkeybars. When the kids need a short break, some even come with a picnic table.

"We have hundreds of models, and they are all customized," said Jeff Wegner, store manager of Rainbow Direct in Mahwah (rainbowplay.com).

Playsets at Rainbow Play Systems Inc. range "from $1,599 to $50,000 — and everywhere in between," said Wegner, adding that the store currently has many discounts and promotions.

* Trampolines. Trampolines are in high demand today, having gotten more popular with the younger set over the past several years.

"Trampolines are so popular, we can’t even keep them in the store," said Wegner. "Our shipments are sold out before they leave the manufacturer."

Ranging in price from $1,299 to $1,899, today’s trampolines are safe. Wegner said his store sells "spring-free" trampolines that have no rigid frames to bump into.

Why are they so popular?

Shannon Bolorin, corporate manager of Swingset & Toy Warehouse in Upper Saddle River, (swingsetwarehouse.com), said, "I think they have always been a kid’s favorite, but now that the trampolines are designed so much better than in the past, parents don’t get that unsure feeling any more when they go to make the purchase. They’re assured the kids will be safe."

"They’re great exercise," Wegner added, "and there’s no age limit. Everyone from toddlers to teens to adults can enjoy them."

— ANTOINETTE RAINONE

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24. Mai 2011 – Dear Crissy (Vereinigte Staaten)

Incredible Springfree Trampoline

There are really only a few items that I can vividly remember begging my parents for when I was a kid, and a backyard trampoline was one of them. Of course, when I had my trampoline, there were absolutely no safety features, and looking back, I am pretty surprised I did not end up with a serious injury. Luckily, there have been some major advances in trampoline safety, and I am super-psyched to announce that I’ve partnered with Springfree, makers of the world’s safest trampoline, for an incredible giveaway! Giveaway Closed.

One Dear Crissy reader is going to pick up this awesome S113 (Large Square) Springfree™ Trampoline (retail value $1,799.00)! How wild will your kids go when you tell them you won one of these?

Springfree™ Trampoline Facts

Springfree™ Trampoline is safe by design: innovative fiberglass rods replace steel springs, the frame is beneath the jumping surface and out of harm’s way, and the FlexiNet™ safety enclosure and strong flexible support rods offer strength and cushioning so kids safely remain on the trampoline.

  • Rods: High-performance composite rods give a soft non-jarring bounce. The rods lie beneath the jumping surface out of harm’s way.
  • Hidden Frame: Springfree™ Trampoline’s frame is well beneath the jumping surface. You can’t hit it, period.
  • SoftEdge™: Over 30 times more shock absorbent than the typical pads laid over the frame and springs on traditional trampolines.
  • Flexinet™: The enclosure has flexible supports to cushion jumpers and prevent falls, directing falling jumpers back to the center of the mat.

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28. März 2011 – The Denver Post (Vereinigte Staaten)

Backyard trampolines offer great workout, but beware of safety issues

Q: I am thinking of getting a trampoline for my family to use for fun and exercise. Are they safe? What is the best way to go about this? — Sam Mikowski, Denver

A: In 1980, a NASA study on rebounding published in the Journal of Applied Physiology called it "the most efficient, effective form of exercise yet devised by man." NASA found that rebounding was 68 percent more efficient than a treadmill because the G-force created by jumping overwhelmingly increased the oxygen absorption in the body due to the alternating experience of being weightless one minute and impacting a more solid surface the next.

This creates a pumping action in the body that pulls waste products out and oxygen and nutrients into the bloodstream. They also discovered that rebounding was helpful in rebuilding the bone and muscle lost by astronauts from extended weightlessness. For us earthbound humans, this is good news indeed.

With a personal-sized mini-trampoline, the activity can be performed in the home or office. Because bouncing is a fun and efficient way to accomplish cardiovascular exercise, people tend to enjoy, rather than evade, a workout.

Unfortunately, backyard trampolines send thousands of people to the hospital each year to be treated for head, neck and spine injuries, according to statistics. These injuries are frequently life-threatening and crippling. A backyard trampoline, therefore, should be dealt with as a serious purchase

with a clear understanding of risks, as well as rewards. This is not a toy.

Marc Rabinoff, a professor in the Human Performance and Sport Department at Metropolitan State College of Denver, has worked as a forensics examiner in more than 300 cases of litigation in which equipment failures have injured people. He warns that the only way this equipment is safe is if everyone obeys these three rules to the letter:

1. No double jumping — only one person jumping at a time.

2. No flips or somersaults.

3. Direct supervision at all times.

"Ninety percent of injuries on trampolines are from backyard trampolines, and 60 percent of those injuries are from falling off. Many of those people are now paraplegics," Rabinoff says. Enclosures for all trampolines are now the industry standard, which has helped reduce injuries. However, the cheaper — and most widely available — varieties, made with low-grade metals, springs, pads and mat materials, are still hazardous because the design allows jumpers to slip through the springs, get tangled in the enclosures and suffer injuries from hitting support rods.

"Parents are being led to believe that if they put up an enclosure that they are installing a safety net. Unfortunately, this is just a false sense of security," says Rabinoff. He explains that the incidence of closed-head injuries — especially from people crashing into each other as they bounce on the mat together — has increased dramatically. "Even with an enclosure, the three rules listed above still apply," says Rabinoff. "This equipment is not a playpen."

Many professionals recommend the Springfree trampoline, designed by a New Zealand engineer to eliminate the impact areas that can cause injury. A Springfree trampoline costs about $1,200 (springfreetrampoline .com, 1-877-586-7723), compared with $300 for those commonly found at discount stores. But the high quality and safety features are worth it, experts say.

Linda J. Buch is a certified fitness trainer in Denver; linda@ljbalance.com.

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10. Dezember 2010 – The Ellen DeGeneres Show (Vereinigte Staaten)

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22. September 2010 – 9 News Sydney (Australien)

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21. Dezember 2009 – Australia's Funniest Home Videos (Australien)

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