Bouncing, motivated and happy!

Several years ago, when rebounding became a thing, I bought myself one for home and work kept a large one for anyone to use at anytime. I was the only person who ever jumped on it because I did feel a degree of detox, but all I did was jump. There were no accessories or programs or even tips on how to get the most out of a rebounder. My very pricey home rebounder didn't quite survive a house move and that was that. I continued jumping on the family trampoline for fun, with no intention of getting fit, I just enjoyed bouncing with my three lovely sons. Lisa Raleigh (and for some reason, I really hope this is her real name!) appeared several times on my Facebook page. Let me backtrack a little. I am an advanced practice registered nurse, specialised in emergencies and palliative care. To say that Covid rocked me to my core is an understatement. I thought that life could not get any worse. But a year later, in April 2021, I lost my teenage middle son in a very gruesome car accident. Up until Covid, I was a fitness fundi, I ran, I boxed, I swam. I lost some of it at the start of Covid but continued running on my treadmill and boxing on my bag at home. When my son died, I literally lost the ability to walk, nevermind run. There is no clinical description for a nervous breakdown but I know that I had one. My world stopped. But then a colourful ad for rebounders piqued my curiosity, and I bought the Studio Pro. Vanessa was very helpful and sent me an invoice, and I had my rebounder in two days. But then I said 'now what?' A call to Cara fixed that. She sent me an orientation pack via email and I have never felt more motivated. Last week, I contacted a Biokineticist to ask her if she will teach me how to run again. This week, I feel strong enough to try, through bouncing, to get my fitness back! Please know that 12 days from now will mark the two year anniversary of the death of my beloved son, but I am not falling to pieces as everyone expects me to. This may seem like a small thing for someone else but it has been life-changing for me. My rebounder came with 3 additional silver washers and I didn't understand what they were for (I do now thanks to Cara and Lisa!). When I called the store to ask them they told me to come in (a 26 minute drive for me) to fetch another three washers, none of which were actually needed as the feet had washers in them and my floor is balanced. But the store was such a treat- everything is in bright, vibrant colours, the music was good and it was literally the first time since I lost my son that I felt inspired. For two years, I had literally been feeling like I was dying (I am not old and had my babies young), but I welcomed the peace of death. Yes, I know, a very dark place for anyone to be in. This evening, I put on the videos that come with the orientation pack and watched them while I was back on my treadmill. As soon as I had walked an hour (I still can't run), I hopped onto my rebounder and did the two beginner workouts. I literally cried. When I was intently watching Lisa (I think it's Lisa in the videos!), I first silently shook my head and told myself that that could never be me. I was there once but I've lost it in two years. But one sentence jumped out when Lisa was holding the bar. She said one can continue using the bar if one is "old or injured". Old or injured. Objectively I'm not old but my body feels like I am 100 years old! But injured....yes I am injured. My heart is damaged irreparably. But all these beautiful colours and all this possibility with my little rebounder (and yes I will accessorise because I certainly don't intend to just bounce aimlessly like I did before,, but baby steps and most definitely those socks first!). It's like every little detail has been thought out and appeals to me like no other physical activity has since my life fell apart. Your whole team has done such a marvelous job at organising and marketing a brand that has only just come to my attention now. Just like I forgot how to run, I am afraid at failing at rebounding. But that's the beauty of rebounding, even just gentle bouncing will yield positive benefits. I intend on being your number one brand ambassador, and I am going to introduce all my patients to rebounding as the best way to keep fit. My only advice is to have everyone on the same page about what is for what (eg the washers) and also to make the orientation pack accessible to all buyers, it makes everything fall into place and doesn't allow one to question if they just wasted R4k+ on a fad. Other than that, I just want to say a huge thank you for changing my life so profoundly tonight.