The Pilates Jump Board is a relatively new craze to hit Pilates studios, even though it was first invented in the 1970's for athletes in the Soviet Union. Recently this unassuming board has become uber popular and we have just 'jumped on board' and welcomed this little addition to our studio! Let's break down what this board does and why everyone is loving it!
What is a jump board?
It is a board that attaches to the front of a reformer machine and changes the reformer into a horizontal jumping apparatus. The Jump board allows clients to jump, hop, skip and leap whilst lying on their sides and backs. The spring tension of the reformer machine removes gravity from the jumping, therefore you feel as if you are jumping with no pressure. As a result of the elimination of gravity you feel as if you are jumping on the floor without the high impact.
Is the jump board the same as jumping on the floor?
No. It is much easier and much safer for the joints to jump on a jump board than to jump on the ground flat footed as gravity is removed from the equation when using a board, due to the light springs attached to the reformer. In addition, the jump board facilitates the engaging of your core, whilst regular jumping does not. When lying on the reformer your spine is supported and aligned correctly, which is not the case when you are engaging in regular jumping. The springs of the reformer work with you and against you to tone your muscles whilst removing stress on your joints. As the jump board is low impact, it protects your knees, hips and lower back from the harsh and jarring impact of landing on the floor when jumping or performing other cardiovascular standing exercises. Jumping on the jump board is even safer than jumping on a trampoline! If you do not have any injuries, you may be wondering why low impact exercise is good for you. Low impact exercise keeps the joints healthy whilst obtaining comparable benefits to that of high impact exercise. For those poor injured souls out there, low impact workouts aid in the healing and recovery of your joints by keeping them fluid and by improving the strength of the muscles around the joints.
How does adding a jump board into my reformer classes benefit me?
This low impact exercise is an excellent way to get the core working, the cardiovascular system going and your muscles toning without putting strain on your joints. Traditional Pilates classes are often performed in a slow and very stable manner to assure the engagement of the core muscles. The jump board revives the core whilst challenging your stability on an unsteady but safe surface of support with a much faster rhythm than you are used to.
A massive benefit of the jump board is the fact that it adds a cardio element to your Pilates classes. When clients perform a 15-20 jump board series, their heart rate is raised for an extra 15-30 minutes post workout, which burns copious more calories than a traditional Pilates class does. Jumping on the jump board is equivalent to performing the Pilates 100's over and over again! The heart rate increases, which removes unwanted toxins from the body, pumps the blood more quickly and assists in weight loss; all great things!
A few more benefits of the jump board:
- It assists in building and enhancing bone density, as this form of Pilates trains the body to consistently articulate muscles and joints with nominal strain on the body,
- It builds muscular strength and tone,
- It reinforces and strengthens the alignment of the hip, knee, foot and ankle,
- It engages the principles of Plyometrics, also known as "jumping training", which are exercises that use massive amounts of force in small intervals of time. Plyometrics creates added strength and power,
- It is a great change in your Pilates routine,
- It is amazing cardiovascular exercise and is one of the ONLY forms of cardio that you can lying down!
- You can even use the jump board for exercises for exercises that do not involve jumping. As the board is a much larger surface area than the footbar, clients often find that the board is more stable to press against, and LASTLY,
- It is very very FUN!!
Can anyone use a jump board?
Clients must have reasonable core strength to be able to jump on a jump board safely. You may not get to jump during your first few reformer classes, but do not be disheartened. Your instructor will know when you are ready to start jumping! Pre and early stage post natal woman are unable to jump, in addition to severely injured clients.
Interested in getting your cardio on without standing? Want to see what this craze is all about? Call Premium Pilates Studio on 0402 680 724, email us at inquiries@premiumpilatesstudio.com or visit us online at premiumpilatesstudio.com to book in a class today!
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