1980s-style trampoline workouts enjoy resurgence in popularity

It felt like the 1980s all over again. The aerobic moves, the knee-high socks, the high-ponytailed instructor. But most of all, it was the trampoline.

All the rage back in the era of sweatbands and spandex, this mini trampoline at BounceLimit, a new fitness studio in Sheung Wan, seemed a lot bigger when I was a child.

In recent years, it's bounced back in popularity and has become one of the hottest fitness trends.

Exercising on a mini trampoline, also known as "rebounding", has won over fans for its low-impact yet highly efficient calorie-zapping abilities: it's said to take up to 85 per cent of the stress off weight-bearing joints and burn up to 1,000 calories an hour. It's reportedly part of Madonna's conditioning routine, and how Gwyneth Paltrow shed her post-baby weight.

Besides, bouncing on one always seems like fun and never hard work. That is, until you've tried a mini trampoline exercise class, as I did at BounceLimit.

The 3,000 sq ft space, which opened two weeks ago at The Pemberton, is Asia's first trampoline fitness studio. Embedded in the studio's raised flooring are 30 mini trampolines that were made in China according to the specifications of the gym's senior instructor, Lucia Tam.

Hexagonal rather than circular, Tam's trampolines are held up by bungee cords instead of the traditional steel-coil springs. Not only does this prevent nasty scrapes and injuries, but also creates a bounce that is smooth and silent rather than jarring and squeaky.