Fitness 17th September 2023 by Stellar Magazine

My Movement: Why Trampolining Is An Amazing Full Body Exercise

"If I only relied on motivation for everything in life, I wouldn't get anything done"

We chat to fitness instructor Veronika Polakova (@jump_to_the_beat) about trampolining, and why it’s her favourite workout. 

Were you always into fitness? 

From a very young age, I developed a love for movement. I was a very active child, always involved in various sports activities and athletic competitions, from mountain biking to kite surfing and hiking. As I have my own life experiences, in recovering from an eating disorder, I absolutely understand the struggle many women go through with their body image. This was the main reason I decided to become a fitness trainer 14 years ago.  

How did you first find trampolining?  

My love for biking started my fitness career as a spinning instructor in 2009. Then in 2013, I saw jumping videos on YouTube and I fell in love with it at first sight! My first contact with the trampoline was in the jumping course and it was an experience like no other. I couldn’t stop smiling. I can still remember how excited I was and I still feel the same way.  

What do you love most about trampolining?  

 It’s difficult to choose! A trampoline workout is not only extremely fun but offers a multitude of health benefits. The simple rhythmic up-and-down motion engages every muscle in the body, even the facial muscles, and stimulates every cell in the body producing amazing healing and rejuvenating effects. What I love about my classes is the fun we have, the friends we become and the experiences we share while working hard. 

Do you think there are any misconceptions about trampolining as fitness?  

When I started my trampoline classes in Ireland seven years ago, it was a very new activity. Nobody really knew what it was. Many people think it’s just for kids or a dancing class only for women. Sure, we all find our inner child when jumping, not taking ourselves too seriously, but a trampoline workout is high intensity but very low impact and a fantastic full-body exercise. A trampoline is much easier on the joints and supports the back which means is suitable for people at every age. 

How do you stay motivated? 

If I only relied on motivation for everything in life, I wouldn’t get anything done. The key is to find something that you really enjoy, and trying to be dedicated to your health even when the conditions aren’t perfect.  

What is your advice for people looking to get into trampolining? 

There are millions of things that hold us back from trying something new, and that’s absolutely normal. Just like anything else, you’ve got to give yourself time to get used to a new workout and that’s why we say not to judge a trampoline workout on your first jump, or even your first class! You can’t rush it. It’s your own path at your own pace. Along with consistency comes patience. It simply takes time, we don’t often give that enough credit. Make sure to take notice and celebrate every small improvement you make. Keep at it and in no time you will be super confident on the trampoline and see improvements. 

Why is movement important to you?  

Any kind of movement or activity means an amazing and uplifting feeling for me I can totally switch off, forget about life’s stresses and just focus on myself. I love to have fun while doing something good for my mental health and keeping the body strong. My goal is to bring joy into the movement and deliver a unique fitness experience suitable for everybody.

This article originally appeared in the September 2023 issue of STELLAR magazine. 

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