We Tried Bungee Fitness at This Central Jersey Gym and We’re Obsessed – NJ Family

Bungee fitness is bouncing its way into popularity, and for good reason—it’s a high-flying (literally) workout that turns gravity into your best workout buddy. Picture yourself strapped into a harness, suspended by bungee cords as you do your workout in midair. The workout is low impact, high energy, high intensity and super fun.

Bounce Studio in Manalapan opened earlier this year and offers bungee fitness, rebounding and Kangoo classes. We recently tried all three, and we were flying through each workout!

How does it work? Bungee fitness secures you into a harness so you can move around with your weight supported by bungee cords. You have to step on a scale first to see how much cord resistance you need, and then the instructor will measure your height so you don’t hit your knees or knock your wrists as you move around.

It sounds scary – and at first, it is – but once you get the hang of it you’ll feel like Peter Pan. During the intro classes, the instructor goes very slowly and shows you the moves “on land” before you “fly.” This gives you time to practice each program because a huge part of the class is trusting the bungee cord. By the third time we “flew” into each exercise, it felt natural. The moves have fun names, too, like Lasso, Starfish and Kickup, different variations of moving your body around your centered spot. Oh and did we mention bungee burpees are part of the workout, too?

This workout is not recommended for anyone who gets motion sickness or has vertigo. The moves can be adapted, and bungee workouts reduce impact by up to 70 percent. The class is one hour but we doubt you’ll catch yourself looking at the clock because it’s that much fun.

Another unique class is Kangoo fitness. The idea was invented in Switzerland and is popular in Europe. How d0es it work? You’ll need to strap on ski boots that attach to rebounding shoes, making you bounce and jump as you walk. Once you steady yourself, you’ll find yourself steering away from the guide bar and moving around freely; once you get courageous, you’ll be hopping and running across the studio floor. It’s another exercise that gives you a lighter-than-air feeling, while working your muscles.

If you prefer more traditional legwork, rebounding is a good option. Everyone in class steps onto a mini trampoline, with most of the 45-minute class tailored to lower body exercises. It’s more intense than the other two classes and helps you work on balance and core work. The workout is a lot of fun and takes some steadiness and stability to get deep into the squats.

All of the programs are designed with cardio, endurance, balance, flexibility, toning and stretching in mind for a full-body workout.

The studio has a great backstory, too. After a health scare and some weight gain, Owner Katie Parrinello, a former cheerleader and dancer, knew she needed to add low-impact workouts to her routine. A big fan of Pilates, she found she was building muscle without losing weight, so she traveled to Oklahoma to train in bungee fitness. She has lost more than 50 pounds so far, and says she now has confidence in herself, her workouts and her business. Katie says the studio will be adding yoga soon, too.

Some tips before your first class:

• You must be at least 14 years old, and weigh 90 to 280 pounds for the bungee class.
• Wear tight leggings, a high-impact sports bra and good workout shoes; if you do Kangoo, you’ll put on the boots instead. Wearing shorts on top of leggings will provide additional layers from the harness. Ask about a waist trainer or foam padding for additional comfort.
• Bring a towel and water bottles.
• Arrive at least 15 minutes early so you can use the restroom and get strapped into the bungee; it does take a few minutes per person. The studio doors lock at class time.
• The studio space fits 9 women plus the instructor, so classes are small – and that means you have to reserve your space early or join a waitlist.
• You need to wait up to 72 hours after Botox injections before flying on the bungee.
• The levels go from beginner to intermediate to advanced, so start off slowly and work your way up. There is also an intermediate boot camp option.
• There’s a fun selfie wall for pics after your workout!

Bounce Studio offers birthday parties, corporate team building, bachelorette or divorce parties, or room for other special occasions. You can bring up to 9 people for one hour or up to 18 people for two hours.

Bounce Studio is located at 315 Rte. 9 South in Alexander Plaza. The class schedule is available online and via the app. You must register in advance of class. You cannot purchase a single class; the lowest packages start at 3 classes and go up to memberships and Frequent Fliers.

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