URX Rant

JB Berns/Urban Rebounding just released a series of 13 high intensity dvds with several well known instructors called Urban Rebounding Extreme (URX).

Most of what I have seen on the clips for these at Totalfitnessdvds makes most of the moves seem intended for use with a step or BOSU, not a rebounder. The rebounder is being used more as a prop than for bouncing. I don't know if it is because these professionals lack experience rebounding and/or if it was JB's directions but most of these workouts have very little rebounding in them and lots of dangerous stunts. Stunts that even a circus acrobat would find challenging, let alone a home exerciser new to rebounding. The whole point of a rebounder IMHO is to pump lymph and move safely. Of course, an extra bonus is fun. As far as burning calories, I find my comfortable bungee very intense with the simplest of movements. In fact, switching to my bungee saved my feet because I was getting more and more foot pain while using a UR in spite of mostly healthbouncing and rarely going completely airborne.

When I first started rebounding, I used Gay Gasper's Fatburning for Dummies workout alot because her higher impact options worked great on the rebounder. Gay Gasper's dvds looked the most like real rebounding to me but most of her moves that I would do are already on other videos. My prediction is that these are going to sell like hot cakes to intensity fans for the first month then show up used on Amazon or on the VF trading exchange like crazy because the total series price will be too tempting to resist if anyone wants to try just a few of them. Sadly, it seems most who are interested in these workouts do not know how to modify much and have been letting their rebounders collect dust when they could have been modifying dozens of workouts already in their collection to the rebounder. Many non specific rebounder workouts would be more do-able than these URX workouts and with less modifying. Worse yet, some exercisers are considering getting a rebounder just to try Extreme Rebounding!

I strongly believe these all have way too many dangerous stunts in them but if you are determined to try these URX workouts:

Remember to order several tubes of Arnica Gel and keep a tube near your rebounder.

Never do these when home alone just in case you have a really bad injury.

If your only choice is to workout home alone, keep your cell phone handy.

If you have a spring cover on your rebounder, remove it.

Please do not go too heavy with hand weights because the GForce will make those seemingly light enough weights have a very heavy effect on your joints.

I was disappointed in the original series of videos from JB but they look alot safer compared to this series. Both series released way too many individual workouts at once with the original offering 20 vhs workouts for $20 each, now available on 4 or 5 compilation dvds. Both series made the mistake of overkill with repetitive music and moves that are not joint friendly. Both series did not offer healthbouncing modifications for those new to rebounding or who would prefer this safer option of bouncing. Another negative about Extreme Rebounding is that many folks just do not have the workout area needed to do them. To do these moves as shown, you need alot of room around the rebounder and a very high ceiling. In our living room, my less than average height son has hit the ceiling with his fingertips just doing jumping jacks on the rebounder.

The only plus side I can see in them is that it may open some people's eyes of how they can modify other step, BOSU, kickbox, and boot camp style workouts to the rebounder. Too bad, these professional instructors couldn't show more sensible adaptations. The down side is it will turn people away from using a rebounder as did JB's original series of videos. Cannot imagine people new to rebounding seeing this URX infomercial and trying these workouts with no previous experience exercising, let alone rebounding.

Now, my biggest question is why so many well known instructors stayed involved with this dangerous project? You can actually see the fear on Kelli Roberts' face. Do they really want at home exercisers, some of whom are huge fans of theirs, doing these workouts? Or were they offered just to many dollars to refuse? Will there be a class action suit against Urban Rebounding, JB Berns and possibly even these instructors down the road? Is there a doctor who is acquainted with these workouts that would give their blessing to their patients to do them? Just as Biggest Loser scares people away from exercise implying that it has to be intense to be effective, many novices to exercising or rebounding will get turned off by Extreme Rebounding, even if they do not suffer an injury. Who exactly are the target audience for these workouts?

I have been part of a checkin at VF for a very long time called *Rebounding Plus*. We had decided to change the name and focus of our checkin next month to something like *Moving to Feel Good*. Perfect timing because I do not want anyone who tries rebounding to misuse a rebounder, causing pain instead of avoiding pain. As careful as I have been with my body, I have made mistakes but am still exercising regularly at the age of 62 while many who have thrown caution to the wind and ignored twinging or early signs of possible joint damage are still suffering from chronic injuries that could have been avoided. Will be skipping this band wagon rather than risk breaking a wheel.

ETA: The new checkin is *Just Right*.

The URX series is actually 14 dvds and now $10 cheaper including an Urban Rebounder for free! This has made alot of people who bought early pretty angry. Bad business driving away your most ardent fans.