Zaadz: ChiBounding

Re: Specific Rebounder Brand Recommendations

Tue, 26 Sep 2006 20:27:11 -0000

Hi, This is my first visit to this website. I'm 70 yrs. old and have been rebounding for 3 yrs. I wrote the "Everything Rebounding" blog to answer people's questions about rebounding and later wrote the "Rebounder Buyer's Guide". I name names in my blog and buyer's guide. You'll read many FAQs about rebounding and read the actual warrantees on each of the top brands.

I have owned or tried the following brands and feel I am qualified to comment on each. ReboundAIR, Needak, Life Tec and the Urban Rebounder "home" or "infomercial" model.

I don't believe a folding model "weakens" the frame. However, neither do I believe a folding model is needed unless you travel a lot and want to take your unit with you. In the first place, it's just not that easy to fold and many people never fold it once they have it. I sell Needak rebounders in my Ebay store and actually had to turn down a buyer because #1 she was elderly and #2 she wanted to buy a folding model and a stabilizer bar and, since she was short on space, wanted to fold it up every day after use.

I told her the truth that it isn't that easy to fold and takes a good deal of strength. Plus, who wants to break down a stabilizer bar every single day? I tell you this to make the point that, even tho' I sell the Needak rebounder, I am honest with people when discussing rebounding and the different brands.

I emailed J.B. Berns some time ago about the fact that his UR home model is called "gym quality" while referring to the non fold model as "the Gym model". To me this is not only confusing but borders on false advertising. However, to their credit, Urban Rebounder does actually list the differences between the models on their website. People can see it for themselves, but how many people seeing the infomercial will do this? Many just see the infomercial, like the price and buy this "home model". The link to the differences between the two models is:

http://www.urbanreboundinggym.com

J.B.'s answer to my question was that the home model IS "gym quality." IMHO it isn't. Otherwise they'd be IN the gyms, but only their "GYM model" is in the gyms as far as I know. If anyone knows differently, I'd be glad to correct my blog and buyer's guide.

My daughter has the home model and compared to the ReboundAIR and Needak, it is much lighter and therefore moves quite a bit if you're heavy or rebound vigorously. I don't recommend it.

As for the frame on a folding model being weak, it's interesting to note that Cellerciser sells only folding models. They do not have a non fold model. I emailed Dave Hall and asked him why he doesn't create a non fold as a less expensive alternative for people who want a Cellerciser, but have limited funds. I never received an answer, but the point is, why would a top manufacturer make ONLY folding models if it weakens them? Since I've never actually tried the Cellerciser, I can only go by price and assume that it is a quality rebounder, but when someone says they are concerned about people buying dangerous low quality models, but does not sell at a price the average consumer can afford, it raises questions. But that's me. A natural born skeptic.

I began selling Needaks in my Ebay store a year ago. I would have like to sell all the top brands, but that takes a huge investment which I don't have. I did finally become a ReboundAIR dealer a few months ago, but had to drop them after one month of terrible customer service, lack of communication and actual screw ups on my orders. I could not believe it.

I read Al Carter's books and held him in such high regard that the bad experience I had as a dealer was incomprehensive to me. In one month they charged me the wrong price and s/h more than once, did not answer my emails regarding errors, did not send confirmations for any of my orders (until I complained) did not send invoices in a timely matter (and then didn't send all of them) and last but not least, sent one customer the wrong item and another an empty box. All this in the space of one month. My checking account was out of balance and after a lot of grief and tearing out of my hair, I finally traced the problem back to my ReboundAIR orders. I'd still be trying to figure out my balance had I not insisted they send confirmation of my orders when I sent in the order and not monthly, which they told me was their procedure. Who buys something and then agrees to wait for a month for a receipt? Not I. I emailed them 3 times about an error and am still waiting for an answer. The funny part is, if there CAN be a funny part to this, is a month after I was no longer a dealer, they sent me an email that was address to all of there dealers as if I was still one of them. Another example of their incompetence. Not only that, they did not send "blind copies", which means they sent the email addresses of every one of their dealers in the CC box instead of the BC box so now every dealer now has the email address of every other dealer. Were I an unscupulous person, I could use this info for evil purposes.

My "Everything Rebounding" blog which answers all of your rebounding questions is at

http://everythingrebounding2.blogspot.com

and my rebounder "Buyer's Guide" at: http://rebounderbuyersguide.blogspot.com

By the way. It has been pointed out to me that the "Lifetime Warrany" advertised by so many dealers of ReboundAIR does not cover "wear and tear". In other words, if your mat or springs wear out, they will be replaced free ONLY ONCE. I had to go to their website to read the warranty myself to see if what I was told was true, and sure enough it's stated right there on their website, but many people buy the ReboundAIR specifically because of this "Lifetime" warranty only to be disappointed when they can't get a second replacement for their mat or spring set. Apparently, even dealers are not aware of this "Lifetime" warranty caveat. Either that or they choose to falsely advertise the warranty.

ReboundAIR has a forum and I asked about this discrepancy, but guess what? My post was never approved for publication. As I said, I have a high regard for Al Carter, but no longer his company.

Nancy

Best Price for Bellicon's Ultimate Rebounder?

Wed, 21 Feb 2007 05:23:24 -0000

Someone wrote me asking me about this, and here's that dialogue:

Hi Dave,

The only distributor in this country is my friend Sylvia, who worked with the company in Switzerland before she moved to the U.S. The supply is very limited. The price is the same, whether you buy it directly from her via phone or through the Enlightenment.Com website, which is an easier option, at http://enlightenment.com/xcart/catalog/Bellicons-Ultimate-Rebounder-p-16177.html.

In answer to your question: there is no best price. I wish they were less expensive, I really do. I feel if they could be gotten down to half their current price, then millions -- and I mean millions -- of people would bounce regularly. But that may take some time.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

best,

Jordan

Re: Please Introduce Yourself

Thu, 29 Mar 2007 18:39:41 -0000

Hi
I'm Joel, and I haven't really ever formally rebounded (there was a game at a gym I went to once that had four people bouncing on mini-tramps and throwing a bean-bag over dividing nets into goals on the opposite side, but that's not *quite* the same. ;) It was fun, and I was flat exhausted when I got out of the thing, couldn't walk very well. )
I'm considering buying a rebounder to put into my daily integrative practices (yoga & chi kung, mostly), and wondering what the most cost effective model is - I know there are several listed on enlightenment.com, Jordan. I'm just hoping you can give some relatively objective assessements of their cost/functionality ratios. ;)
ETA: never mind! One should always check the FAQ's first. Ooopsy.

Re: Please Introduce Yourself

Thu, 29 Mar 2007 19:14:40 -0000

Hi Joel,

If you look around the pod you'll see a F.A.Q. just about equipment at http://pods.zaadz.com/digital_darshan/discussions/view/11414.

The bottom line is this: the most bang for the buck is going to be the Urban Rebounder. I don't like the mat, and I don't like it compared to the newer bungy-based units, but it definitely is not a toy, and you can get a real rebounding workout from it.

If you can afford it, you'd want to go all the way to the top of the line Bellicon Ultimate Rebounder, but if you've never been on one, you won't know the difference, and then later on you can treat yourself to one.

The one thing to *not* do is get a cheap sports store model, and that would be pretty much anything even into the low $100 range. And if you're going to spend that much, you might as well get the Urban Rebounder (which I have no relatinoshp with and Enlightenment.Com gets nothing out of that).

The mid-range American units, the ReboundAir and Bellicons, are in some ways better than the Urban Rebounder. For one thing, they have the better Permatron mat (a DuPont product). But I found these units couldn't really stand up to the pounding that a guy who weighs about 200 pounds like me gave it when I went hard 45 minutes a day. The springs broke, and the mats frayed.

That's about what I know. Good luck!

-- Jordan

Re: Please Introduce Yourself

Sun, 15 Jul 2007 23:17:25 -0000

I'm Nick Smith, I can't say that I ever have rebounded or even been on a trampoline, but now I'm interested. Can you suggest a model?

Re: Please Introduce Yourself

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 00:50:34 -0000

Hi there,

Take a look at what I've already written here:
http://pods.zaadz.com/digital_darshan/discussions/view/11414

If spending good money on high-qualityh equipment isn't a problem, then the choice is clear for most people: the Bellicon Ultimate rebounders. But even if you don't want to go for the best of what's out there, I wouldn't spend any less than the $150 or so it will take you to get an Urban Rebounder unit. Pretty much anything below that will be a toy, and not give you a good sense of what rebounding is like.

On Enlightenment.Com in our store we are selling three units, a medium-quality ReboundAir (spring-based) and the Bellicon Ultimates and Minis. Eventually, the prices will come down on the bungy-based Bellicon units, but right now there is nothing else like them, they come in to the country in small lots, and that's just what it is.

Let me know if you have any other questions!

best,

Jordan

Re: Please Introduce Yourself

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 20:00:27 -0000

After resurrecting my old, rusty, "Springer" brand rebounder from the 80's, I rekindled my passion for bouncing but promptly tore the surface fabric. Immediately, my body told me that this form of exercise was wonderful in so many ways. I decided to invest in the Rebound-Air model and have been loving my experience lately. I always find new ways to move on the rebounder and have recently been experimenting with stretching, yoga postures, etc that incorporate using the rebounder surface. After being introduced to Bradford Keeney's "Shaking Medicine", I found that "shaking" is really facilitated by being on the rebounder, also. I'm excited to get introduced to ChiBounding soon. What fun to find another passionate jumper.
Terry Rosendahl

Re: Please Introduce Yourself

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 20:56:29 -0000

Glad to see you here!

Could you tell me more about the "Shaking Medicine" that you were speaking of? Is there online information?

You are exaclty right: there are a zillion ways to rebound, all of them interesting, all of them powerful. I look forward to your many contributions to rebounding and ChiBounding over the next several decades!

Jordan's Lessons to Matthew on How to ChiBound: Lesson # 1

Sat, 13 Oct 2007 02:51:23 -0000

Please see http://enlightenmentdotcom.zaadz.com/blog/2007/10/jordans_lessons_to_matthew_on_how_to_chibound_lesson_1 for the actual video lesson, but then please come back here to post any comments or questions. Thanks! -- Jordan (and Matthew)

Re: Jordan's Lessons to Matthew on How to ChiBound: Lesson # 1

Sat, 13 Oct 2007 17:32:11 -0000

Hehehe... Nice! It's like having my own personal chibounding trainer :) Thanks, Jordan!

I'm noticing that I'm already doing a lot of the exercises you showed, much to my delight. And I'm excited to "make stuff up" too! But I am running into one annoying setback that I wonder if you experienced at the beginning. Whenever I finish bouncing, I have a fluid build-up in my ears and when I talk it sounds like I'm in a glass bubble. Do you think I should see an ears-nose-throat doctor or just keep bouncing and see if my body works it out eventually?

Thanks again!
~M

Re: Jordan's Lessons to Matthew on How to ChiBound: Lesson # 1

Sat, 13 Oct 2007 17:43:05 -0000

Yes, Matthew, I *am* like your own personal chibounding trainer. You are getting services worth $100 an hour for free! LOL!!!

So, buildup of fluid in your ears. I can ask around about that. I would say that unless it is really bothersome, assume that it is something that will work through over time. Chibounding, as part of strengthening your entire system, will find the weak points and literally put pressure on them.

Have you previously had ear/nose/throat sutff? I would hate to have you see a doctor who would say, "Well, then, you can't do this activity." It also may be pointing to dietary factors that you haven't known about, e.g., wheat, dairy, that for some people lead to increased mucous generally. Also, maybe your system is too acidic? (I love making millet for breakfast. I eat it with cottage cheese, fruit, and a bit of maple syrup, as a porridge. Millet is the only alkalizing grain, or so I've been told.)

How are you doing time-wise and soreness wise?

best,

Jordan

Re: Jordan's Lessons to Matthew on How to ChiBound: Lesson # 1

Sat, 13 Oct 2007 17:59:38 -0000

I'm at 15 minutes per day right now, no noticeable soreness, except for a little in the abs. Oh, and I've got blisters on my big toes, which I hope will turn to callouses soon.

If you don't hear more about the ear thing and it doesn't work itself out in a couple of weeks, I'll probably see a doctor about it. If s/he tells me not to bounce, I'll get a second opinion. I have had this ear weirdness in the past, which started about 3 years ago and came with no recognizable pattern. So, perhaps it's a part of my body that needs strengthening, or perhaps chibounding is emphasizing a part of my body that really needs to be checked out. Either way, don't think stopping the bounce would be the appropriate course of action.

Re: Jordan's Lessons to Matthew on How to ChiBound: Lesson # 1

Sat, 13 Oct 2007 19:21:08 -0000

Somewhat oddly -- or is it ironically -- I too have had a long history of weird ear stuff going back to being in college. Actually, right before college I had it checked out by a doctor, and he said I had "clogged eustacion (sp.?) tubes."

In any case, I think your course of action is a wise one. Proceed with caution, and then get an opinon, and if necessary, a second opinion.

Good going, Matthew.

-- Jordan

Re: Jordan's Lessons to Matthew on How to ChiBound: Lesson # 1

Sat, 13 Oct 2007 23:18:05 -0000

That was a great video! I really like the part about using other equipment while bouncing. I'll have to try a little of that tomorrow. That rebounder also looks amazing...looks like I'll have to start saving for one too! As to the fluid in the ears I would second Jordan's observation that it could be allergies/acidity. Most likely the boucing is shifting the fluid around but is being caused by something else. I have had a lot of ear issues since I was a kid and they do seem to be very allergy related.

Re: Jordan's Lessons to Matthew on How to ChiBound: Lesson # 1

Sat, 13 Oct 2007 23:31:57 -0000

Glad you liked it, Erika. And yes, give some equipment a go. I think there are lots and lots of possible ways to rebound and/or chibound (the latter emphasizes posture, breath, energy flow, and healing). Basically, the more the merrier!

And the Bellicon rebounders are, in fact, really really sweet. The bungy-bands, which are specially developed for this, give a gentler bounce, probably because of the way they work in comparison with springs, which build up a whole lot of energy very quickly and then let it go very quickly.

In any case, thanks for checking in here.

best,

Jordan

Re: Jordan's Lessons to Matthew on How to ChiBound: Lesson # 1

Sat, 13 Oct 2007 23:41:29 -0000

I can see in the video how much smoother the bounce is. Its amazing! I knew when I bought mine it was not the best (nor the worst) but I was not sure if I would stick with it so was loathe to spend more money on it....now that I'm hooked though it's time to start saving! I hope you and Matthew keep up these lessons, it's a great idea!

Re: Jordan's Lessons to Matthew on How to ChiBound: Lesson # 1

Sat, 13 Oct 2007 23:59:15 -0000

And that's not to say that high-grade spring-based reboundes aren't a good idea. I bounced on one -- Bellicon's, in fact -- for three years, pretty much every day. But as soon as I got on the bungy-based one, I knew that one of those form-and-function leaps in a product had been made that there's be no turning back from.

OK, it's time for me to ... bounce! Have a good evening, Erika. And I love you in those mud flats. We were up in the Bay of Funday last summer and it was outrageous when the tide went out.

How It's Going After 45 Days; An Audio Interview with Matthew

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 22:22:02 -0000

As you may know, Matthew Mogen, who works for Zaadz, has been inspired to bounce for a whole year, ever day, and to blog about his experiences as one means of keeping his commitments. See his blog to track his current progress: http://matthew.zaadz.com/blog

Well, Matthew graciously consented to being interviewed about his progress and his experiences several times throughout the year. This is the first of this interviews, and you can listen to it by clicking on the following link:

http://www.enlightenment.com/media/audiointerviews/rebounding/Matthew_Mogen/matthew_1_rebound.mp3

Re: How It's Going After 45 Days; An Audio Interview with Matthew

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 22:25:08 -0000

Matthew discusses many interesting subjects, including some health challenges at the very beginning (some ear concerns, blisters on his feet), and the fact that, unlike me, he prefers bouncing without music (he prefers a quiet mind).

He also discusses some of the changes he's seen and felt to date, including the fact that he seems to have a lot more stamina when going for long walks.

Keep on bouncing, Matthew!

# 6 now available: Band Bouncing Nov. 07

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 01:58:34 -0000

# 6: ChiBounding Video: Jordan Gruber Band Bouncing Nov. 07