Nadia Sawalha’s fitness routine is just as energetic as her on-screen personality. The Loose Women panellist has long made rebounding – exercising on a mini trampoline – a staple part of her routine, particularly when she’s short on time.
‘I can’t be arsed to run for half an hour, and I haven’t got time,’ the 61-year-old recently said while bouncing on her rebounder in her garden. ‘So this gives me the same cardiovascular workout in just 10 minutes.’
She added that the claim was ‘all based on NASA research’, referencing a 1980 study that found 10 minutes of rebounding could be up to 68% more effective than 30 minutes of jogging.
The study found that ‘for similar levels of heart rate (HR) and oxygen uptake (VO2), the magnitude of the biomechanical stimuli was greater with jumping on a trampoline than with running’. In other words, trampolining placed greater physical demand on participants’ muscles, bones and joints than treadmill running, despite the cardiovascular effort being similar.
Nadia also highlighted rebounding’s low-impact nature and potential bone-health benefits. ‘We’re all worrying about our bone density and muscle, so it’s good for that as well. It’s joint-friendly [and] improves your circulation.’
More importantly, though, she says it boosts her mood. ‘It is good for my mood, my mental health,’ she explained. ‘Usually, by the time I get off here, I’m a much nicer person than I was when I got on it.’
She’s also noticed aesthetic benefits. ‘As for my cellulite, the lymphatic drainage helps the puffiness,’ she added.
Why Nadia swears by rebounding workouts
It’s not the first time Nadia has praised rebounding. ‘Rebounding is my favourite exercise ever. I truly love it, I get a massive calorie burn and feel brilliant afterwards. Anyone can do it, at any age,’ she previously told Rebound Fitness, having also attended rebounding classes at Chelsea FC Health Club.
‘The best thing is that I do it while watching The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Sometimes I bounce for 10 minutes, sometimes two hours. Instead of jumping up like you do on a trampoline, you push down. The gravity helps my vision, spine, muscles, bones, lungs, heart – everything,’ she continued.
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