Touch the Sky

Ashley MacLure

I’ve jumped on a few trampolines in my day, so when I signed up for the SkyRobics class at SkyZone, a new indoor trampoline park in East Providence, I thought I knew what I was getting myself into. Wrong. SkyZone itself is an amazing facility, offering 15,000 square feet of wall to wall trampoline courts. There is a massive Main Court, a three lane Foam Pit, two Dodgeball Courts and two SkySlam Courts for you basketball fans dying to go airborne as you slam dunk.

After signing an electronic waiver at a kiosk, I checked in at the counter. I was handed a pair of high-top trampoline sneakers and directed to the Main Court. I laced up, stored my stuff in a cubbie and headed over to the Main Court. I thought this was going to be a fun bounce around workout. I claimed my trampoline and started bouncing along to Rhianna’s “Diamonds in the Sky” blaring out the speakers. The higher I bounced, the more I felt like a diamond in the sky. This was fun! The hour-long class started with some jumping in place and then quickly transitioned into a serious workout. I did jumping jacks in the air, which are easier on the knees when you’re on a trampoline, jumped with resistance bands, which worked out my biceps and triceps, squatted, did sit-ups and more. Jumping from one side of my section to the other side sounded easy, but it was a chore. At one point, I bounced myself to the sidelines. I learned that ten minutes on the trampoline is equivalent to 30 minutes on a treadmill. We were given a few water breaks, but silly me I doubted I would break a sweat, so I didn’t bring one. When the clock struck noon, I was sweaty, thirsty, but smiling. SkyRobics is an innovative workout that is really easy on your joints - I didn’t creak once. This was definitely more exhilarating than a halfhearted jog on the treadmill. Next time, I’ll try diving into the Foam Pit.