Whilst a student on the Sound Healing and Therapy Certificate Program at Globe Institute of Recording and Production, my interest was piqued when one of the tutors mentioned that he used to have an Orgone Accumulator. Since I had never heard of such a device, nor indeed of Orgone, and since I respect the tutor as such a mine of fascinating and well-researched information, I knew instantly that I wanted to learn more about it.

During the course, I had developed a particular interest in how to best create the optimal environment for healing and spiritual advancement. This had mostly led me to explore the use of pyramids and crystal grids, but the discovery of Orgonite excited me because it adds a new dimension to my endeavour.

However, it would be remiss of me not to mention that in the process of researching Orgone and Orgonite, I have come upon much disagreement and it has not always been easy to pick the wheat from the chaff! As such, I do not claim to have all of the answers, but instead my aim is to present to you an objective overview of what I have discovered so far.

What is Orgone?

Orgone is the name that Wilhelm Reich (1897 – 1957) gave to the omnipresent and primordial life force, which he observed as a blue radiation and believed to be the basis of all life processes, from the formation of galaxies to the cellular or macro-biological level. This wasn’t a unique concept as most traditional cultures had long held a common belief in an invisible energy which is everywhere and embodies all things – called Qi by the Chinese, Prana by the Indians, and Mana by the Polynesians, for example. However, Reich’s work stands apart from such beliefs in that he discovered Orgone empirically, through experiments, in a scientific way.

Reich was an Austrian medical doctor and scientist. He was a pupil of Sigmund Freud and published many books on psychology before relocating to America and turning his attention to bioelectricity and cosmology. It was in 1939 that Reich discovered that SAPA bions emitted a visible blue fluorescence which killed neighbouring bacteria, made his eyes smart when he looked at it, and could even give him a suntan. Indeed, it had many traits in common with ultraviolet light and it could be argued that it was merely this that Reich was experiencing the effects of, except that this blue light had invigorating properties and caused luminous effects in mid-air where there were no objects to fluoresce off of. Thus, Reich proposed that an etheric bio-energetic life force exists which animates our environment, and he named it Orgone. His laboratory and clinical findings indicated that Orgone could be photographed and measured, and had powerful life-positive biological effects. Essentially, Orgone is the essence of life. Without it, living things die. It’s discovery and subsequent research holds the answer to a healthy and blissful life.

Reich believed that the key to physical and mental health was the balance of this Orgone energy which he divided into two categories – ‘Positive Orgone Energy’ (POR) and anti-biological ‘Deadly Orgone Energy’ (DOE).

Positive Orgone Energy (POR)
POR is organized, structured and coherent. It is generated from nature and enables living organisms to exist in a healthy state.

Deadly Orgone Energy (DOE)
Conversely, DOE is ‘stagnant’ and leads to decay and entropy – very similar to the idea of ‘blockages’ in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Reich believed that DOE was largely responsible for environmental damage and decay on Earth, psychological and mental disturbances in life forms, and the body’s physical degeneration.

Reich believed that trauma could imprint itself on a place or a person, and that energy could be blocked by traumatic experiences and stored in the tissues of the body, causing muscular tension. He termed this accumulation and blockage ‘armouring’ and hypothesized that this stagnant and heavy energy (which prevents the beauty of creativity, love, and positive intention from flowing through) would become DOE and would often be associated with physical and mental disease.

DOE can originate from a bad memory, an act of violence, the EMFs from technology, pollution, or illness.

The Orgone Accumulator

Reich found that Orgone is attracted to and absorbed by every organic material. Non-organic metallic substances also attract Orgone, but they quickly repel it again. Using these properties, Reich developed the Orgone Accumulator to gather Orgone energy in its free form directly from the atmosphere. This is a 6-sided wooden cupboard (about the size of a telephone box) lined with alternating layers of cotton and steel wool, with the inner wall lined with a thin sheet of galvanised steel. The Orgone Accumulator’s organic layers attract the atmospheric Orgone energy which is then directed inward by the metal layers. Any energy reflected outward by the metal layers is reabsorbed by the organic material, attracted back to the metal, and directed toward the inside of the box. The result is a higher concentration of Orgone energy inside the box. The more layers, the higher the concentration.

The Orgone Accumulator became a valuable tool in Reich’s scientific and medical research. Patients would sit inside the Orgone Accumulator, with impressive results. The high concentration of Orgone was found to boost the immune system, improve the health of the blood, shrink cancerous tumours, speed up healing, and relieve pain. Reich also observed that the Orgone energy in the human bio-system could be measured bio-electrically and was indicative of a person’s overall aliveness and vitality; this could often be increased by sitting inside the Orgone Accumulator. Even plants, in complete darkness, would develop chlorophyll and flourish inside an Orgone Accumulator.

More recent research in 2010 has determined that the Orgone Accumulator may have a significant effect on human health and that this could be caused by activation of the parasympathetic nervous system and possibly by an action of the neuro-endocrine system.

It is vitally important to note that Orgone Accumulators merely gather Orgone from the surrounding atmosphere, whether that is POR or DOE. For that reason, Orgone Accumulators should be placed in serene natural environments high in POR, and definitely not near to power grids, electromagnetic fields or nuclear radiation.

In The Orgone Accumulator Handbook, James DeMeo offers Orgone Accumulator construction plans. A free copy of this book in PDF format is available here. Updates to the book can be found here. The materials with which to build an Orgone Accumulator can be purchased here.

This video also shows how to build an Orgone Accumulator:

The Orgone Blanket

For those patients who were bedridden or too weak to sit inside the Orgone Accumulator, Reich invented the Orgone Blanket. The Orgone Blanket was built according to the same principles as the Orgone Accumulator, with alternating layers of organic material (3 layers of sheep’s wool) and inorganic material (2 layers of steel wool). The patient could be completely wrapped or covered, except for the head.

One hour under the Orgone Blanket is enough, and it is not recommended to sleep all night long under the blanket to avoid an overload of energy. However, healthy people can stay under the Orgone Blanket for longer periods of time without side effects.

Moisture significantly lessens the effectiveness of the Orgone Blanket. It is therefore recommended that it is used in dry conditions and it should always be thoroughly dried after use or exposed to the sun to facilitate the evaporation of moisture trapped deep inside.

For anyone interested in making their own Orgone Blanket, these instructions will be useful. Alternatively, Orgone Blankets can be purchased from here and here. Once you have your Orgone Blanket, this link provides recommendations on its use.

Wilhelm Reich’s Cloudbuster

The Chembuster

In the early 21st century, inspired by Reich’s Cloudbuster, Don Croft described a simple, homemade invention called a Chembuster which he demonstrated was able to “disperse and break up chemtrails, allowing for a return of normal blueness to the sky, an invigoration of the air with a clean, fresh smell and the production of rain in those areas where drought is being artificially created by HAARP and other secret weather controlling technologies.”

The Chembuster transmutes DOE (which is the “glue” which holds chemtrails together) into POR, causing the chemtrails to break up and disperse.

For anyone interested in building their own Chembuster, you can find a wealth of information and instructions here, here and here.

What is Orgonite?

Although it was an Austrian Scientist named Karl Hans Welz who invented Orgonite in 1992, Reich’s layering of organic and inorganic materials to accumulate Orgone was key in its development.

Orgonite is simply a mix (in an approximately 1:1 ratio) of a high quality carbon-based epoxy resin (which is organic, due to the fact that it is based on petrochemicals) and metal (which is inorganic) along with one or more quartz crystals. This is poured into a mould (typically in the shape of a pyramid, a disc or cone) and the result is a decorative piece sized anywhere between a paperweight and a household ornament. Orgonite pendants are also common.

Since Reich discovered that increasing the number of layers resulted in a stronger accumulation of Orgone, Welz deduced that it is best to use a fine metal powder. Welz’s son, Karl Victor Welz, continues to make and sell Orgonite and recommends using a 150 micron or finer powder to achieve as many layers as possible per cubic inch. Karl Victor Welz advocates that, in common with Reich’s Orgone Accumulator, Orgonite merely accumulates Orgone from the surrounding atmosphere and thus is capable of accumulating both POR and DOE. It is therefore his opinion that Orgonite should be placed on a sunny windowsill by a plant, for example, and not near any sources of DOE.

However, this point is controversial. In the early 21st century, Croft modified Welz’s formulation, using metal shavings/filings in place of the fine metal powder. Both Croft’s daughter, Nora, and his wife, Carol, have the gift of being able to see subtle energies and they helped him to develop this new formula which he claimed profoundly improved the effect and power of Orgonite, creating not merely an Orgone accumulator but an Orgone generator – i.e. a device which has the ability to convert DOE into POR, essentially acting as a filter to purify negative energies and re-distribute harmonious energy. Of course, this changes everything. Suddenly, this becomes the ideal device to place near to power grids, electromagnetic fields, nuclear power stations and your Wi-Fi router! Indeed, many people are ‘gifting’ Orgonite in a bid to heal the environment, by placing Orgonite by mobile phone masts and other sources of DOE. One of the most prolific gifters worldwide is Georg Ritschl from Orgonise Africa who has gifted over 30,000 pieces across Southern Africa. He recounts how rivers that were dry for decades began flowing with water again when the energy of the land was brought into balance with Orgonite. There is a great deal of anecdotal evidence to suggest that these Orgonite devices transmute DOE into POR, thus mitigating the effects of electromagnetic radiation and positively affecting the local environment. However, both Karl Victor Welz and DeMeo maintain that Orgonite is an Orgone Accumulator and not an Orgone Generator. They believe the Orgonite made according to Croft’s formula to be largely ineffective and speak strongly against the practice of gifting.

Besides the layers of organic and inorganic materials, there is another explanation for the subtle energies generated by Orgonite though. The epoxy resin used to create Orgonite shrinks during the curing process, creating a permanent mechanical stress on the quartz crystal and activating its piezoelectric property, thus generating an electric charge. It is claimed that it is this that allows DOE to be repolarized, and yet quartz crystals are used in both Welz’s and Croft’s designs. This video explains the piezoelectric effect well:

• Science attributes the benefits of Orgonite to its production of a stream of negative ions, which a great deal of research has shown to improve health. An Air Ion Meter can be used to measure positive and negative ions.
• An Electromagnetic Field Meter could be used to detect and compare the electromagnetic radiation emitted by technological devices with and without the presence of Orgonite.
• Heliognosis manufacture the ‘Experimental Life Energy Meter’, a unique device which is able to detect Orgone and is based on the mysterious Orgone Field Meter of Wilhelm Reich.
• Applied Kinesiology (a.k.a. manual muscle testing) can be used to confirm the energetic effects of Orgonite on the individual.

Healing Properties and Benefits of Orgonite

• Promotes spiritual growth and awakening, strengthening visualizations and intentions
• Enhances and deepens meditation
• Boosts immunity and improves the integrity of tissues
• Acts as a powerful healing tool for people and pets, with increased rates of tissue growth, repair, and wound healing
• Reduces stress and tension, promotes mental calmness and a positive attitude, and balances moods and hormones
• Accelerated and healthier growth of plants and crops
• Improved sleep and vivid, positive dreams
• Aligns the chakras, shifting blocks and promoting energy flow
• Aids concentration and mental clarity
• Boosts energy and vitality, and increases stamina
• Reduced hyperactivity and improved cooperation in children
• Improved interpersonal relationships
• Has a calming effect on animals and improves the behaviour of pets
• Protects against EMFs and other harmful frequencies in the home, including fluorescent lighting and smart meters
• Orgonite moulded into the shape of a ‘charging plate’ can be used to restructure water, energetically charge foods, and charge crystals.
• Helps to dispel chemtrails and neutralize long-standing negative energies of all types within ¼ to ½ mile. This includes helping to mitigate energies intended for mind control and other nefarious purposes that are being radiated from underground facilities (Montauk), HAARP, microwave GWEN towers and affiliated ELF microwave antennas.

How to Make Orgonite

For anyone interested in making their own Orgonite, the following links detail the various options and instructions:

Reinhard Stanjek has many YouTube videos about Orgonite and Orgone energy. He also offers a couple of online courses which teach you how to make Orgonite yourself. (Reinhard Stanjek is a proponent of ‘gifting’ and Croft’s work.)

Croft has named his Orgonite devices “Holy Handgrenade (HHG)” and “Towerbuster.” Instructions for making the Towerbuster can be found here, here and here. And if you’d like to make the Holy Handgrenade (HHG), you can find the instructions here and here.

In this video, Karl Victor Welz describes how to make Orgonite very simply using fine metal powder:

Resources and Further Study

The website of Karl Hans Welz, the inventor of Orgonite and the first man-made Orgone Generator, includes his biography and the history of his inventions.

All devices on this website were designed by Karl Hans Welz, the inventor of Orgonite® and the Orgone Generator® (Chi Generator®), and are handmade by his son, Karl Victor Welz. (It is worth noting that Welz registered the name Orgonite as a trademark, and so others selling these devices often refer to them as Orgone devices or similar, which can be confusing.)

James DeMeo’s Research Website, and the Orgone Biophysical Research Lab (OBRL), includes a bibliography on orgonomy / orgone biophysics and a list of resources.

The Wilhelm Reich Museum sells copies of Reich’s books, research and other publications.

This video provides a factually accurate introduction to the life and work of Wilhelm Reich:

Sadly, Wilhelm Reich died broke and destitute in 1957 while in prison for violating FDA regulations, more than 8 tons of his original works and publications having being burned by way of FDA injunction. Kate Bush describes in her song “Cloudbusting” the arrest of Reich through the eyes of his son, Peter.

Energy Dome

For the professionals that number is even higher at 85%, but their injuries tend to come from overuse, i.e. hitting 200 to 500 balls a day.

Low back pain is by far the most common problem experienced by golfers. It accounts for over a third of all golfing injuries and happens to players regardless of age or ability. The lower back is often the source of pain, but rarely the cause of pain.

The leading cause of pain is poor swing mechanics associated with a lack of mobility in the ankles, hips, thoracic spine and shoulders. These issues result in the lower back being over-stressed and eventually breaking down.

When your back does breakdown, you could experience one of the following injuries:

1. Muscle Strain or Ligamentous Sprain
A muscle strain, or “pulled muscle,” and an injured ligament will usually resolve itself in 2-4 weeks. Symptoms may range from a minor ache to a sharp debilitating pain. Most sprains and strains are localised in the lower back region, meaning pain does not radiate into the buttocks or leg.

2. Disc Injury
The lumbar intervertebral disc acts as a spacer between adjacent vertebrae and works as a shock absorber. If excessive or abnormal stressors are placed on the disc, tears can occur, and the inner jelly-like substance can bulge out of the disc or even rupture the disc. Discs degenerate with age and lose their shock absorbing ability. Disc problems can irritate or compress spinal nerves causing pain, often radiating pain into the buttocks or the leg (sciatica).

3. Altered Joint Mechanics or Motor Control
The brain can completely change the lumbar spine’s ability to move just by changing which muscles are firing and in what order. This can occur in the absence of any visible injury. These altered motor control or joint mechanics can begin as a protective mechanism, but can lead to chronic problems over time.

4. Degenerative Arthritis
With over-use, abuse or ageing, spinal joints can become arthritic. Bone spurs and osteophytes can develop. Stenosis, the narrowing of the canal that houses the spinal nerves, is a very common problem with arthritic changes.

5. Bone Fracture
Stress fractures and pedicle fractures (spondylolysis) are common problems seen in the lumbar spines of rotational athletes.

Secondly, you should continue to stretch and strengthen your back between golf sessions, along with a low-impact aerobic exercise programme, such as walking or cycling.

Finally, after the low back pain has subsided, return to playing golf slowly and apply the prevention tips below to help avoid future occurrences. As with so many health conditions, a little effort to prevent injury goes a long way. Address these three key areas to stay out of the ‘back-pain bunker’: Your Body, Your Technique, Your Bag.

Your Body

The first area you can address to prevent injury is your body. These three key recommendations are a great place to start.

Hips and Thoracic Spine: The golf swing requires great rotational mobility to develop and transfer energy to the club. That mobility should come from the joints in the body that are designed to rotate: the hips and the thoracic spine. Creating optimal movement in these areas, which are directly above and below your lumbar spine, should be your first line of defence against lower back pain. If the lower back is forced to repeatedly rotate it’s only a matter of time before an injury will occur. It is important to remember that the hips and thoracic spine do not operate in isolation. Ankle mobility can affect the hip joint and the shoulders work with the thoracic spine in rotation – so you can’t neglect those joints either.

Core Strength: The abdominal muscles may be both the most important and the most neglected muscles for golfers. These muscles promote posture and balance and provide support to the spine. Core weakness results in increased strain on the lower back during the rotational movements associated with the golf swing, and can also make it hard to maintain good posture throughout the swing. Increasing pressure in the abdominals helps protect the back from injury. Your therapist can assess your joint flexibility and muscle strength and give you exercises to improve both.

Warming Up: Going directly to the tee at 7:00 a.m., pulling out the driver, and then proceeding to try to hit the cover off the ball is probably the quickest way to strain your back. Instead, a thorough warm-up before starting to hit balls — including stretching and easy swings — is critical for your muscles to get ready for the game. Overall, muscles that have been stretched and gradually loaded are much less prone to being injured and can take more stress before being strained.

Your Technique

Perfecting your technique won’t just improve your game; it’ll also help prevent injury. The objective of a golf swing is to develop significant club-head speed, and to do this a lot of torque (force) and torsion (twisting) is applied through your lower back. A smooth, rhythmic swing produces less stress on the lower back, minimising muscular effort and load on the spine. With a proper swing, the shoulder, pelvis (hip), and thoracolumbar segments (chest and lower spine) rotate to share the load of the swing. You can achieve good balance while golfing by slightly bending your knees and keeping your feet approximately shoulder-width apart. Your spine should be straight, and you should bend forward from the hips with your weight evenly distributed on the balls of your feet. As most golfers will agree, developing an easy, fluid swing is often easier said than done. Working with a golf pro for a few sessions is a great way to improve your swing and avoid lower back injury, especially since most aspects of a golf swing are not natural or intuitive.

Your Bag

Repeated bending over to pick up your golf bag can stress the lower back, so we’ve put together a list of recommendations for your bag that will help prevent lower back injury.
1. Invest in an integrated golf bag stand that opens when the bag is set on the ground. This can eliminate the need to bend over.
2. Use dual straps (like a backpack) on the golf bag to evenly divide the weight across your back. Bag straps that place all the pressure on one shoulder can be hard on your back. Even better add some wheels.
3. If your bag is on wheels, push rather than pull your bag. Pushing your cart allows for better alignment and less rotational loading on your back compared to pulling your cart with one hand behind you.
4. Do some walking in between holes. Riding on a motorised golf cart may benefit you in not having to physically carry the weight of your clubs; however, sitting and driving over rough terrain could increase spinal compression forces in your back and aggravate pain.
5. When bending over to place or retrieve a golf ball it is important to:
– Stand with one foot in front of the other;
– Use your golf club to support the weight of your upper body;
– Gently tighten your abdominal muscles; and
– Bend from the knees and hips. Never bend over at the waist with straight legs.

In Summary

You can still enjoy playing golf even if you’re experiencing chronic lower back pain. Don’t forget – golf requires much more athletic ability than many people imagine, and ignoring the physical demands of the sport often leads many people to suffer from injuries because of poor general conditioning, lack of warm up, poor technique and limited practice. With regular exercise, including specific strengthening and stretching, and better swing technique, you can experience a significant improvement in performance and reduction in injuries

“What on earth is an acupressure mat?” I hear you ask. Well, it’s essentially like a little bed of nails. But wait – before you hit the back button, bear with me because this little mat is amazing. It’s like having your own personal masseuse and it’s the ultimate self-care tool. Sure, it’s a little spiky and uncomfortable at first, but it soon becomes warm and sooooo deeply relaxing.

The underlying health principals of a bed of nails originate in ancient Eastern medicine. This ancient Ayurvedic tool stimulates thousands of acupressure points across the body and was once used by gurus and yogis to restore balance to the body, mind, and spirit.

Modern-day acupressure mats feature massage discs which contour to the shape of your body. On these massage discs are thousands of sharp spikes which apply pressure to the skin and muscles, stimulating the nervous system, natural blood flow and triggering pressure points that assist your body’s healthy functioning.

I first tried an acupressure mat at The Yoga Show about 10 years ago and, for me, it was an instant hit! I snapped one up soon after and it’s become a beautiful addition to my own yoga practice. I often lie on the mat for savasana; it induces such a deep state of relaxation.

But you certainly don’t have to practice yoga to benefit from using an acupressure mat. I lie on my acupressure mat for 20 minutes before bed each night, as part of my night-time sleep routine, and it has really helped me to fall asleep quickly and to sleep really deeply too. Sometimes I practice coherent breathing whilst I lie there and sometimes I listen to an audiobook. Either way, it’s a super relaxing experience and it sets me right up for a good night’s sleep.

As an added bonus, it’s ultra light and portable so I’ll often take it with me when I’m travelling too.

For best results it is recommended that the acupressure mat is used for 20 minutes daily, and it is claimed that this may help to:

• reduce stress and anxiety, soothe the mind and boost your mood (by promoting the release of endorphins and oxytocin – your body’s natural ‘happy hormones’)
• relieve insomnia and encourage deep sleep
• support healthy blood circulation and oxygenate the body
• relieve aches and pains
• relax muscles and release muscle tension and stiffness
• relieve headaches, and back or neck pain
• rejuvenate tired, achy feet
• relieve constipation
• improve skin complexion
• reduce cellulite
• boost energy levels and relieve feelings of fatigue (Top tip: Stand on your mat for 2-3 minutes in the morning to wake up the body and revive tired feet.)

So, the benefits sound amazing and you want to give it a try… but you still just can’t get over the thought that it’s going to be painful, right? Let’s talk about that again. I’ll be honest – acupressure is a powerful treatment and you may initially feel some discomfort, particularly in areas of the body where tension is high. But within minutes any unpleasant sensations will transform into tingling, pulsating, and deep warmth as the body adjusts and relaxes, leaving you with an overall sense of calm and restoration. With regular use, you probably won’t feel any discomfort at all as the tension in your body eases in the areas where the mat is applied. If you do find it too intense with bare skin though, you can start by wearing a thin T-shirt or placing a pillowcase over the mat. Using the mat whilst lying on your bed, rather than the floor, can reduce the intensity too. Seriously, give it a chance peeps – you’ll be so glad you did.

Reap the Benefits of an Acupressure Mat for Yourself…

When the sun is shining and the days are longer, we all want to be outside. Outdoor activities rule at this time of year and garden games are a must for all ages. What’s more, you’ll be having so much fun that you won’t realise you’re keeping fit and active too!

Whether you are a couple, a large group of family or friends, or you’re looking to entertain the kiddos, I’ve compiled a selection of my absolute favourite outdoor games that you really ought to own. And most of them are portable enough to take along to the beach, park, or your next camping trip too.

If you’re someone who hates exercise, then I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t need to be that way.

If huffing, puffing and sweating your way through a spin class doesn’t rock your boat and the gym just isn’t your ‘happy place’ then read on. I’ve got you covered.

We all know that exercise makes us feel good once the endorphins kick in, but that thought alone is often not enough to overcome our inertia and get us off the couch.

What if you could actually enjoy the process of getting fit? Working out really can be a fun and enjoyable experience, but you may need to look outside the box to find the activities you enjoy.

1. Kangoo Jumps

Not only are Kangoo Jumps rebound shoes super fun but they’re versatile too, providing a number of workout options. They also provide a safe alternative to running/jogging since the spring system compresses with each step, absorbing 80% of the impact which could otherwise cause damage to the joints.

You could attend a Kangoo Jumps class (although, as far as I can tell, these seem to be limited to major cities) or try one of the workouts on YouTube, such as this one:

You’ll just need to grab yourself a pair of Kangoo Jumps rebound shoes:

2. LARPing

In a live action role-playing game (LARP) the players physically portray their characters in an amazing adventure. You could be running for your life, wielding heavy weaponry or wearing a heavy costume, but you will be exercising your imagination as much as your body.

3. Volunteering

Participating in a community project such as cleaning up a park or beach will give you some exercise and help to improve your community too.

Green Gyms are fun and free outdoor sessions where you will be guided in practical activities to improve the outdoor environment, such as planting trees, sowing meadows and establishing wildlife ponds. The emphasis is very much on enhancing your health and fitness and Green Gym sessions can burn almost a third more calories than an average aerobics class. Sessions include a warm-up and a cool-down and there is a range of light to vigorous activities to suit all abilities.

4. Maracattack

Miranda can make anything fun and this exercise DVD is no exception. What’s not to love about shaking marraccas?!

All you need is a copy of the Maracattack DVD and some maracas to get you dancing around your living room with Miranda!

5. Tactical Laser Tag & Paintball

Perfect for the competitive types amongst you, laser tag and paintball can feel like being immersed in a real-life video game. It’s a fun way to spend time with your family or friends and you’ll get so caught up in the thrill of the game that you won’t realise how hard you are working.

6. Aqua Cycling

Aqua cycling has many benefits, but the main draw is cellulite reduction. The underwater cycling movement generates a constant “palper-rouler”/lymphatic massage which stimulates and breaks down fatty cells whilst the hydrostatic pressure of the water activates the muscles, triggers blood flow and creates a drainage effect to mobilize the fat and eliminate it via the circulation. The only downside is that the only UK classes I have been able to find are in London, making it quite pricey once travel is factored in.

7. Skiing on a Treadmill

Well, I’ve tried skiing and I have to say it just didn’t rock my world, and I’ve treated too many skiing injuries to persevere with trying to love it. That said, skiing is a great exercise and I’d love a slice of the fitness benefits. Perhaps this treadmill ski slope in London could be the answer.

8. Sit on a Gym Ball

If you’re totally hooked on your new video game or the latest series of your favourite TV show, at least trade the sofa for a gym ball. Your abdominal and back muscles will be constantly engaged in order to keep your balance.

Here are a few of my favourites:

9. Ice Skating

Ice Skating can be a fun challenge and is a great way to improve your strength coordination and balance, particularly working the muscles which stabilize your hips, knees and ankles. You may like to take lessons or simply visit your local rink with friends for fun. In the winter, outdoor ice rinks tend to pop up in towns and usually have a lovely atmosphere.

10. Grow your own!

We have grown vegetables and fruits in our back garden for as long as I can remember, but I got into it in a really big way in 2010. I can certainly vouch for the fact that starting your own vegetable garden is a really satisfying hobby that will both keep you fit and provide you with organically grown fruits, veggies and herbs that taste so much better than their shop-bought counterparts. Gardening burns 200 to 400 calories per hour, and all whilst enjoying nature and the fresh air.

11. Dancing

Now, I’ve been dancing since I was three years old and have qualified as a dance teacher, so you can assume that I’m going to be a little biased here when I tell you that dancing is a super fun way to keep fit. But really, there is a style for everyone. It is Ballroom and Latin American dancing that I love the most, but there are so many styles to choose from that you are bound to find one that appeals to you – from belly dancing to ballet, cheerleading, Argentine Tango, hitting the dancefloor in your local nightclub or even just cranking up the music and dancing around your living room. Or give one of these dance workout DVDs a try:

12. Hiking

Take your dog and your camera and head out into nature. Hiking can burn up to 500 calories per hour, depending on your pace and how hilly your route is, but you’ll be enjoying the scenery too much to notice that you are exercising. Why not pack a picnic, invite some friends and make a day of it?

If you prefer organised walks, you could check Meetup for groups near you or join The Ramblers. I particularly enjoy walks that are guided, where you get to learn as you walk – usually about the natural environment or the history of the area.

Or, if you fancy a real-life treasure hunt, give Geocaching a try.

13. Circus Skills

After a challenge and some childlike fun? Trying your hand at some circus skills may be just what you need.

Bouncing on a pogo stick can be an intense, yet low-impact, plyometric exercise. Most of the effort is produced by the core, especially the abdominal muscles, but you will also be working your leg and buttock muscles and building strength in your back. Balance is required too, of course! Small jumps of 6 to 8 inches will burn about 600 calories per hour and higher jumps will burn even more.

14. Zombies, Run!

Zombies, Run! is an immersive running game for Android and iOS platforms that will see you running to survive the zombie apocalypse! As you run, you will collect items to help the town survive and listen to audio narrations to uncover the story.

The app records your distance, time, pace, and calories burned and you can also opt to participate in a zombie chase which requires you to run at least 20% faster for a short period of time – thus constituting a form of interval training. The incentive? If you’re not fast enough you’ll be caught by zombies and lose your supplies. Harsh!

Between runs, you can use the supplies you have collected to enhance the township, unlock more missions and influence story events. Hence, the more you run, the more you are rewarded.

Expansions have been released annually and there is also a 5k training app which consists of an 8-week programme that is ideal for beginners.

15. Balance Boards

Surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding are excellent for improving strength, coordination and balance but they’re not necessarily easily accessible for everyone. Fear not. There are a number of balance boards on the market that these athletes frequently use for training but that we can all take advantage of to get those same fitness benefits… whilst having a whole lot of fun in the process! These balance boards usually consist of a plank set on a cylinder that allows the body to pivot back and forth. One of my favourites is the Indo Board:

16. Climbing

Climbing is a great all-round exercise and it’s a fun social activity that could make an active alternative to meeting friends for a meal. The climbing routes on indoor climbing walls are graded so it’s a suitable activity for all abilities and leveling up as you improve is so satisfying.

17. Zwift

18. Hula Hooping

Remember how much fun this was as a kid? Well, it’s great exercise too, especially for trimming your waist and hips and strengthening your core. These benefits are enhanced by the design of Powerhoops, with the weight of the hoops and their wavy interior creating pulsing contractions in your abdominal muscles. Look out for a class near you or grab one of their DVDs and workout at home.

19. Rollerblading

Would you believe that rollerblading can burn a whopping 900 calories per hour?! In my head, rollerblading is synonymous with sunshine, blue skies and the 26-mile Bike Path in Santa Monica, CA. For the rest of us, we’re just going to have to adapt and overcome… and use our imaginations!

Ring Fit Adventure
This has got to be the ultimate game if you’re looking for a workout. It’s as easy or hard as you want it to be – making it suitable for gym bunnies and couch potatoes alike. Plus it really is fun. What more can you ask for? This game could literally replace your gym membership!

Zumba: Burn It Up!
With it’s high-energy routines and chart-topping hits, this is the ultimate dance party. You’ll be burning calories in no time! And with classes lasting up to 60 minutes there’s potential here for a serious workout.

ARMS
Grab those Joy-Cons for some motion-controlled fisticuffs! You’ll be using stretchy weaponised arms to punch, thump and knock-out opponents. And don’t forget to dodge your opponent’s incoming attacks too. With both single and multiplayer options, this is one addictive game!

Fitness Boxing
This game will see you punching and squatting as you box to the beat. You’ll get your whole body moving, which makes for an at-home cardio workout that’s surprisingly effective. If you prefer to work out with a buddy, you can choose whether to work out cooperatively or test your skills by facing off against each other in a virtual ring!

Just Dance 2020
How could this list be complete without the latest in the Just Dance series? As a diehard Just Dance fan, I felt the series lost traction for a while, but it’s certainly back on form with this latest offering which is probably the best yet. There are even 8 kid-friendly songs, so the whole family can get involved. Grab your Joy-Cons and get bopping!

21. Rebounding & Trampolining

Rebounding can be a really fun way to keep fit, and you can even do it at home whilst watching the TV! If you’d like more info, you may like to read my post about the Health Benefits of Rebounding and discover why I believe the Bellicon rebounder is the crème de la crème.

Alternatively, why not head to your local trampoline park for a fun day out?

22. And finally… laugh!

I asked Google if laughter is an exercise and the answer was a resounding YES! Laughing exercises several muscles in the body, including your abdomen, back, shoulders, and facial muscles. It has been likened to a mini workout crunch and also provides a workout for the respiratory system and the cardiovascular system. Laughing 100 times a day can be the equivalent of 15 minutes of cardio exercise.

Rebounding is fun, easy, and safe for almost anybody of any age. It’s quoted by NASA as “the most efficient and effective exercise yet devised by man”. The health benefits of rebounding are amazing… and you can even do it at home whilst watching TV!

So, what is Rebounding?

Put simply – bouncing on a mini trampoline.

The rebound mini-trampoline subjects the body to gravitational pulls ranging from zero at the top of each bounce to 2-3 times the force of gravity at the bottom, depending on how high the person is rebounding.

Rebounding is a zero-impact exercise, and there are many benefits of rebounding for your health and body.

Benefits of Rebounding:

• Rebounding is an aerobic exercise which improves blood circulation and increases the capacity of both the heart and lungs. With regular rebounding the resting heart rate can decline 10 beats per minute, which means 5,000 fewer heartbeats in a single night’s sleep.
• Lowers cholesterol levels
• Improves co-ordination and balance
• Reduces stress and tension
• Improves muscle tone (particularly legs, thighs, hips, abdomen and arms)
• Increases energy and vitality
• Boosts the lymphatic system and detoxification
• Strengthens the immune system. Many immune cells such as T-lymphocytes and macrophages are self-propelled by amoebic action. All cells in the body become stronger in response to the increased G-force during rebounding, and this cellular exercise results in the self-propelled immune cells being up to 5 times more active. The job description of these cells includes eating viruses, bacteria and even cancer cells, so it is good that they be active!
• Stimulates all internal organs, moves the cerebral-spinal fluid, aqueous fluid within the eyes (many people claim improved eyesight), and does wonders for the intestines.

Inactive or wheel-chair bound seniors find that rebounding gives them renewed vigor and zest for life. Blind or handicapped people can purchase a hand rail that attaches to their rebound mini-trampoline. Hyperactive children are reported to calm down after a few days of rebounding. Rebounding is for almost everyone!

How Rebounding Boosts the Lymphatic System

The lymph system bathes every cell, carrying nutrients to the cell and waste products away, yet the lymph is totally dependent on physical exercise to move. Without adequate movement, the cells are left stewing in their own waste products and starving for nutrients, a situation that contributes to arthritis, cancer and other degenerative diseases as well as aging. Rebounding is reported to increase lymph flow by 15 to 30 times.

The lymph fluid moves through channels called “vessels” that are filled with one way valves, so it always moves in the same direction. The main lymph vessels run up the legs, up the arms, up the torso, and down from the face into the neck. This is why the vertical up and down movement of rebounding is so effective to pump the lymph.

Choosing a Rebounder

So, are all rebounders equal? Or, in the words of George Orwell, are some more equal than others?

Well, I am a big fan of Justin and Kate Stellman and their Extreme Health Radio, which I subscribe to through the podcast app on my iPad. Their shows are always interesting, informative and thought-provoking but also fun and entertaining to listen to. I feel like I know Justin and Kate personally! It was through listening to their show that I heard of the Bellicon rebounder.

According to Justin and Kate,

The Bellicon rebounder is hands down THE best rebounder on the market today. If you want to prevent disease, increase circulation, detox the body, cleanse your lymphatic system and build bone density you’ll want to jump up and down every single day on a rebounder.

Justin and Kate often mention the Bellicon rebounder and the benefits of rebounding on their shows but the following show is one that focused entirely on the Bellicon rebounder:

Buy your own Bellicon rebounder…

Getting Started on the Rebounder

Everyone starts with the “health bounce” which means your feet remain in contact with the mat while the body moves up and down. The health bounce is sufficient to give all the benefits of rebounding while gently strengthening the entire body.

The health bounce can be done while talking on the phone, listening to music or watching TV and people can use the rebounder whenever they have a few minutes during the day.

It is recommended that you wear running shoes or do your rebounding with bare feet so you do not slip.

Adults start with 5 minutes of rebounding and increase their time as fitness improves. Seniors start with 2 minutes ten times per day, with at least 30 minutes between sessions. It is necessary for older people to start gradually in order to give the connective tissue holding internal organs in place time to strengthen. This prevents the possibility of prolapsed organs – the only contra-indication to rebounding reported in the literature.

Bellicon Rebounder Workout Videos

Note: Not all exercises are suitable for everyone. Please consult your doctor before beginning these or any other Bellicon exercise programmes. The instructions and advice presented are in no way intended as a substitute for medical counseling. The creators, producers and developers of these videos and this website disclaim any liabilities or loss in connection with the exercises and advice herein.