| Some of my fondest childhood memories revolve around my neighbor’s trampoline. It was an unsafe, wide open, enormous monstrosity of a trampoline. There was no net (this was the 60s after all), the springs were exposed and really good at snagging errant body parts, and it was conveniently located right next to a 5 foot wall that we’d jump from. I mean, how could you not? It was right there. You’d bounce for hours, you’d bounce till your calves were on fire. You’d spend hours trying to perfect the front flip, and then the back flip. You’d have death matches where you and another guy would fly at each other from opposite ends of the trampoline, colliding in mid air and trying to knock the other on his back. We called it jousting. Thankfully, there were no catastrophic injuries. No concussions, no hyperextended knees, no torn ligaments. I can’t even recall a broken bone. But never did we imagine the trampoline as a way to “exercise.” It was a place to play. Turns out that, just like all the other fun stuff you do as kids like run around, wrestle, climb, ride bikes, jump, play games and sports, swim, and throw things, trampolining has become a legitimate form of exercise. Search Youtube and you’ll find hundreds of full-blown exercise routines and regimens using the trampoline. They call it “rebounding,” and it usually involves a small personal-sized trampoline, but it’s essentially bouncing on a trampoline. Read More | 
