On The Rebound: - Enlightenment.Com

6. A Personal Introduction: My Purpose, Experience, and Qualifications
Suppose that you had, in early middle age, been exposed to a hidden technology, once
widely known but now largely forgotten, that enabled you to talk with the gods. In my
case, I was exposed to a rebounder, and I soon found myself conversing – at least in my
own mind and body – with the gods of health, well-being, and perhaps even longevity.
Not only that, these gods had seemingly given me a mission: to fully deploy rebound
exercise in my own life, to note its physical and more-than-physical benefits, and to then
widely communicate what I had experienced. Had this happened to you, then perhaps like
me you would have written a book just like this one.
Rebounders, in something like their present form, have been readily available since the
mid 1970’s. Ironically, I obtained an inexpensive rebounder in 1984 when I lived in a
tiny apartment in Astoria, Queens, New York City. I had my first full-time job, it was my
first apartment, and I was determined to stay healthy by exercising. But like so many
others, after using my rebounder for just a few times, I put it away and forgot about it. It
would be another 18 years before I would again step onto a rebounder.
Fig 1: The Author
In August of 2002 my friend Colleen dropped by, her rebounder in tow, and suggested
that I give it a try. Just step on and start bouncing up and down lightly, she said, with a
twinkle in her eye and a spring in her step. Don’t even let your heels leave the floor for
the first couple of minutes.
I followed her instructions, and felt my body begin to rise and fall gently as the thick
metal springs and high-grade velvety plastic mat took my weight and began to gently
pulse me up and down. What I noticed first was that my body felt spacious and buoyant,
as if it were filled with a kind of liquid light.
Now, try jumping a little higher. I gently pushed off the mat, felt my body rise a few
inches, and then felt myself hit the mat with both feet, only to rise again. I smiled with
delight as I instantly realized that I would never quite be the same.
On the Rebound, draft 1.0, © 2004 Jordan Gruber, All Rights Reserved; Confidential, Please do not Reproduce - 12 -