After three knee surgeries, Wilré Breedt was struggling to exercise because of the impact it had on her body.
Missing the feeling of a good workout and all the benefits of regular exercise, the Tauranga physiotherapist started researching solutions.
“I have knee injuries from netball and just struggled exercising. I love sweating and feeling like you had a workout, but also having fun,” Breedt said.
About eight months after her last surgery – which included an ACL and meniscus tear – she came across rebounding.
“First session on a rebounder, no knee pain and then about six months after doing rebounding, I ran my first half-marathon ever,” she said.
Feeling like she was onto something special, Breedt decided to share it.
And so, The Rebound Lab was born.
Breedt now runs four rebounding classes a week, including two at Bethlehem Hall on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5.30pm.
She said the concept of exercising on mini trampolines was a bit confusing for some at first, but people picked it up within minutes.
The classes have formed a dedicated following.
“It’s hard not to love because I mean, it’s jumping on a trampoline to music with a group of people having fun and you don’t have pain,” Breedt said.
Cheryl Cook attends three classes a week, and said she was so grateful to Breedt for starting them.
“There’s so many of us who are concerned with joints and hip problems and this allows us to have a full cardio without the impact.”
When she started attending, she suffered from tendonitis and currently has hip problems and is getting over two frozen shoulders.
“I would say to anyone, even if you only do it once, you’re going to get a lot out of it,” Cook said.
“I love the enthusiasm that comes from our instructor. She feeds us with so much energy.”
Breedt said a lot of people struggled with joint pain and mobility concerns and she believed rebounding had many benefits for people of all ages and abilities.
“Those with aches and pains … they’ve found this very helpful.
“Just jumping on the rebounder for two minutes helps to activate that lymphatic system and you contract all your muscles when you’re jumping … So, it’s a full body workout.”
Breedt said rebounding was also a real mood booster and an opportunity for social connection.
The Bethlehem Hall sessions often had more than 20 people attending.
For Breedt, who spends her days as a physiotherapist helping people with all sorts of injuries and aches and pains, rebounding classes were also a way to step up and lead by example.
The first class is free. After that, it costs $15 per class. A bulk advance booking discount is available.
For more information about The Rebound Lab, contact Wilré Breedt on 021 151 0144.
-Content supplied by Bay Venues.