JMJ

February 25, 2024

Blessed "Little Easter" :)!

I am excited to share my new piece of "exercise equipment" :)!

I grew up bouncing on a tractor tire innertube.

I LOVE to bounce!

But I haven't had much opportunity for decades.

Mini trampolines are too stiff

& there was never a chance to test

whether the "soft" bounce type would be suitable.

I was looking into the soft-bounce rebounders again,

but my doctors were very much against it--

"You wouldn't *believe* the number of injuries

we see from those things."

As I was looking into the possibility of a large tire

on the floor or the ground (safer?),

God provided :)!

I found the Jungle Jumparoo,

designed by an Idaho farmer for his grandchildren.

It's a 4' heavy-duty innertube

on/in a support structure of heavy-duty metal.

with bars to hold onto while you're bouncing.

It's made by a small family business :).

In the 30 years that they have been selling these

(wish I'd known about it sooner!),

there hasn't been a *single* injury!

There is no weight limit. 

It will take up to 3 adults or 6 children.

My oncologist's nurse team still wasn't too sure,

but said it's my decision.

And my primary Care doctor thought it was a great idea :).

SOLD :)!

Brian ordered it for me on January 25.

It was on pre-order, to ship sometime in February.

I waited with a firm hand on my eagerness (to not become impatient!).

With the start of February, the anticipation grew :).

I finally got word that it had shipped--it was delayed in transit--

and arrived last Monday, Feb 19!

It was only 3 1/2 weeks, but it felt like an eternity ;).

Brian was home for his one day of Winter Break (God's timing :),

so he rolled the 95lb box (!) into the house

& went to work putting all the pieces together

& inflating the inner tube.

By early afternoon, I was bouncing :).

https://youtube.com/shorts/yAS-4zjOdzU?feature=share

I can't bounce as long as I used to

before getting winded (funny that ;),

but I can take a few bounces as I pass by--

it's on the path from the bedroom & bathroom

to the living room & kitchen,

which gets a lot of traffic :).

I can hang from the top of the bars (not for long),

do small bounces (for a longer period of time),

or medium or high bounces.

I checked--I can't bounce high enough

to get my head even close to hitting the ceiling.

I *can* bounce using my arms to pull down on the poles

without using my leg muscles or knees,

so it can be good exercise for my arms too :).

There are a whole host of health benefits,

from getting lymph flowing

(which I need to counteract side effects of my cancer medication),

to improving circulation/heart health,

building bone density

(which I also need, since cancer got into my bones)

& muscle tone, improving metabolism,

balance & coordination, digestion & elimination (another need)

& a whole lot more.

It's good for the psyche too :).

My exercise all of my adult life has always been walking,

especially walking to or from Mass

(I need either a companion or a compelling destination

or it won't happen).

When it's too rainy or there is no Mass or "whatever",

there are other exercises I can do--

but the chances of my actually *doing* them are slim.

Bouncing, I do, whether I need to or not :)!

I wish I could give you a chance to try it out :)!

Bounce!  Bounce!  Bounce!

Blessings!

    _|_

Kathy|

The LORD is my strength and my shield;

my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.

My heart leaps for joy

and I will give thanks to Him in song.