Jump in with Blue Rocket Bungee Fitness
By Cynthia Reeves / Photos by Kate Treick Photography
“Lean, shoulders forward, knees bent, shuffle, shuffle shuffle...”
Certified instructor Robin Leathers leads a Level I Bungee Fitness class through a routine that aims to “increase endurance, stamina, and burn calories.”
First, students learn the basics and get comfortable with the harness and techniques, then they are off. The session is set to music and is about 34 to 55 minutes long.
The Bungee cord is attached to the rafters on a swivel. Participants strap into a device that looks like part of a parachute pack. The bungee cord is set up according to weight. Once in the harness, each person has a six-foot radius to jump around and fly.
Leathers and her husband, Bill, opened Blue Rocket Bungee Fitness in Pace two years ago. The concept started in Thailand and was brought to the United States in 2017 by an instructor in Arizona.
The couple chose the name Blue Rocket because those were Bill Leathers’ call signs while serving 25 years in the Air Force. The couple is proud to boost being both a woman- and veteran-owned business.
Leathers’ love for dance and fitness started at age five. She has had many certifications over the years including Jazzercise, Country Heat and Zumba. She loves bungee fitness because “it is great for lymphatic drainage. It is fun and energizing.”
Judy Snell has attended four classes and is becoming a regular.
“It is a great workout without realizing it. It’s so much fun!” Snell said.
Each class is capped at twelve per class including the instructor, so there’s plenty of room to jump around. Men and women of all ages can participate. Currently there is an age range from 11 to 77. The weight must be between 90 to 300 pounds.
There are three levels of Bungee Fitness, plus some specialty classes like Bungee Bootcamp, a fusion of strength training, toning exercises and cardio, or Bungee Burn, which uses free weights, kettlebells and a Pilates Ring.
In addition to bungee classes, there is also SHiNE dance fitness, a Fit Boots rebounding class and cardio country line dancing.
Leathers said there is something for everyone with bungee fitness.
“It is great core and ab work,” she said, explaining that it’s great to boost immunity since many people have lymphatic system issues. That system keeps body fluid levels balanced and defends the body against infections.
Bottom line, she said, “It helps get the ‘junk’ out of the system,” but in a fun engaging way.
