Rebounding for Exercise

Rebounding involves jumping up and down on a mini trampoline that's about 9 inches high and 3 feet in diameter. You're subjected to the beneficial pull of gravity but do not experience impact as you would with jogging or jumping on a hard surface. Beginners may barely leave the surface of the trampoline as they bounce, while more experienced rebounders may jump higher to increase the intensity of the movement. Penni Shelton, author of the "Raw Food Cleanse," asserts that this gentle gravitational movement facilitates the flow of cerebral spinal fluid, massages the organs and benefits the intestines.

The Lymphatic System

Rebounding is particularly good for encouraging movement of fluids through the lymphatic system, which is your own personal garbage disposal. The lymphatic system is a network of organs, nodes, ducts and vessels that move fluid throughout the body and is a major player in your immune system. The lymphatic system produces immune-supporting white blood cells and flushes bacteria and inflammatory cells from the plasma of the blood. Unlike the circulatory system, which has its own pump, the lymphatic system relies on movement of the muscles to flow. Gentle jumping on the rebounder encourages this flow and can cleanse the lymphatic system. Many types of gentle exercise, such as yoga and walking, can be beneficial in increasing circulation in the lymphatic system, but the up-down movement of rebounding combined with its low-impact nature make it an especially good choice. Higher impact activity, such as jogging or jumping rope could have the same effect, but these are more stressful to your joints and muscular system.

Nervous System

Exercise is key in reducing stress, especially when performed gently, regularly and for reasonable periods of time -- such as the 30 minutes daily recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Jumping on a rebounder fulfills this recommendation and its repetitive nature is soothing to your nervous system, says Shelton. When you clear the neural pathways of stress, your body transmits nerve impulses to and from the brain more efficiently. This helps improve your coordination and balance as well as your mood. You may not "cleanse" the nervous system per se, but you definitely experience a calming effect that contributes to a more relaxed disposition.

Stimulating Benefits

Rebounding is often recommended as exercise while cleansing because it also has stimulating effects on essential body systems. It doesn't cleanse these systems, but does help them work more effectively -- thereby improving your health. Because it's a cardiovascular activity, rebounding stimulates the heart and breathing rate, making the process of delivering oxygen and nutrients to tissues and organs more efficient. You'll also experience stimulation of the glandular system, which regulates energy-providing hormones.