Al Carter and his family did not live a normal life in the 1970s. Touring the country with a 45-minute circus act, they were performing for a paycheck, without fitness in mind. But when his children eventually returned to public schools, they began breaking athletic records with their strength and agility. "I look back, and I still can't believe the events that followed our trampoline tour," he says. "I was the typical daddy in a typical family that was a-typically strong."

Carter went on a mission to uncover the science and health benefits behind trampolining ‑- and what has evolved into a modern mini-trampoline-based exercise called Urban Rebounding. He says this controlled method of using gravity and resistance has numerous advantages when it comes to working out, including:

• Improving muscle-to-fat ratio
• Aiding lymphatic and respiratory circulation
• Increasing the production of red blood cells
• Raising the resting metabolic rate so more calories are burned
• Promoting tissue repair

Perhaps most importantly, Carter says: "Exercise is only effective if the person actually exercises ‑- and one key is finding something you enjoy doing. Rebounding is fun and playful for most people, so they'll participate more often."