There’s a new fun way to get fit, and it promises to make even the worst cardio moves – like burpees and press-ups – slightly more enjoyable.
Bungee fitness classes are trending on TikTok right now, after a video from Oklahoma-based studio Lifted Bungee went viral on the social media platform, racking up an impressive 1.3 million views.
The mesmerising video shows a group of gym-goers bouncing, gliding and flying around a studio to Lady Gaga’s Rain On Me, all while rigged up to bungee cords.
Yep, it turns out you don’t need to be a daredevil to reap the cardiovascular benefits of bungee jumping, and the classes may soon be coming to a gym near you.
What is bungee fitness?
Bungee fitness is a low-impact training method that takes gravity out of cardio bootcamp workouts.
The group classes are typically performed in a harness, which is attached to a bungee cord that’s secured to the ceiling of a studio.
The stretchy cord provides both resistance and assistance, so your muscles and balance skills are constantly challenged while you glide through the air.
During the class, you move through a set of bodyweight exercises like lunges and press ups, which the instructor will call out in sequence – a bit like a dance routine.
Once you’ve got to grips with the basic moves, you can then move on to more dynamic exercises, like jumps and twists.
What are the benefits?
Bungee cords are a type of suspension training that can make exercise more dynamic while supporting your joints at the same time.
The combination of cardio and strength training elevates your heart rate into the fat-burning zone, helping you to build muscle and burn calories – but because you’re suspended from the ceiling, there’s a lot less impact on joints.
This makes it a great fitness option for people who are recovering from injury.
Although you’re just using a basic cord, there’s an infinite number of different moves you can do in a bungee class. When it’s used in the correct way, it’s a total body workout that delivers core strength, better flexibility and it builds on your endurance too.
Rory McEntee, brand director at Gymbox says: “This might look fun, but it’s also a full body workout that will leave you gasping at the end.”
Gymbox has a bungee fitness class called Superfly, a 45-minute low-gravity workout performed to music. Think of it like an exercise class for people who hate exercise.
“During a class, you’ll bounce around in squats and throw yourself towards the floor, burpee style, before pushing yourself back up to give your upper body a real workout.”
McEntee says that you can expect to burn around 700 calories in a 45-minute workout, but above all else, it’s a real mood lifter.
“You’ll glide through the air in poses that make you feel like a pro-dancer, a superhero and a gymnast all at once.”
Where can I try it?
Lots of gyms like Gymbox, plus aerial studios and circus academies, now offer bungee classes, and there are specialist studios opening up across the country too, like Bungee Fitness in Maidstone.
Your best bet is to Google what options are near you and keep an eye out for gym restrictions lifting.
“It may feel totally unnatural at the beginning, but trust the process and harness,” says McEntee. “Enjoy the feeling of flying through the air as you move through a range of motions at ground-level, before picking yourself up and jumping around with the rest of the class.”