Busy Philipps’ Trick for Making Any Floor Workout More Intense? Try It on a Trampoline

Philipps shared a video of herself to Instagram in the midst of an intense sweat sesh at Los Angeles studio LEKFIT—literally, she was dripping, which is exactly how she likes it—cycling through donkey kicks on everyone’s favorite childhood toy. Trampolines (or, as they're known in the fitness world, “rebounders”) have become a trendy way to trick-out your cardio routine of late, but it turns out that they have body-boosting benefits for strength training, too.

“Doing your strength work on the rebounder—for example, with your legs on all fours—forces you to engage your core by preventing yourself from sinking down, much more than you would if you were doing the same exercise on the floor using a mat,” explains Lauren Kleban, founder of LEKFIT. "The rebounder is also much more comfortable on your knees than being on the floor.”

"Doing your strength work on the rebounder forces you to engage your core by preventing yourself from sinking down, much more than you would if you were doing the same exercise on the floor using a mat." —Lauren Kleban

Another benefit? It's even good for your lymphatic system (who knew?). "The rebounder is excellent for activating the lymphatic system, which helps to rid your body of toxins," adds Kleban. "It also improves digestion, builds endurance, improves balance and full-body muscle tone, and has zero impact, which is great for any body at any age.”

Wondering how to recreate this sort of low-impact, high-results trampoline workout at home? In addition to Philipps’ beloved donkey kicks, there are plenty of other mat moves that translate easily to the trampoline. Kleban suggests leg lifts in attitude derrière, which work the outer thutt (thighs plus butt) and lower core as you pull up off the rebounder, or holding an inverted plank with your feet on the mesh and your palms on the floor. “[There are] many variations of this,” she explains. "For example, this week we are working the obliques, lower core, and glutes simultaneously by doing side leg lifts on the rebounder. It’s so challenging for the core, arms, glutes, and hamstrings.”

While you apparently shouldn’t use the $60 trampoline that's been collecting dust in your garage since 2002 for workout purposes (… I asked), purchasing a studio-style rebounder of your own will only run you between $250-$300—which is a significantly smaller hit to your credit card statement than most other at-home fitness equipment. Plus, as 12-year-old you likely knows first-hand, it’s a lot more fun.

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Need some more celeb-inspired moves to help you motivate? Check out Scarlett Johanson's 20-minute full-body workout, Karlie Kloss's equipment-free pre-runway moves, and Drake's swear-by burpees.