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It's an exercise class for people who may not normally be able to exercise. It's called Kangoo and the only place in the state to find it is at Kaizen Wellness and Fitness Center in Vestavia Hills.
E. Runnels is a Kangoo instructor who knows the benefits of Kangoo first hand. About 20 years ago she herniated two discs in her back and she thought she'd never be able to run again.
“I had not been able to do any impact since about 1988 until we found the kangoos about two years ago and I've been in the boots on a given day as long as eight and a half hours with no pain," said Runnels.
So what's the secret? According to Runnels, the kangoos take 80% of the impact off of key areas such as your back, ankles, shins and hips.
"It's a rebound, rebounding, the movement of rebounding is one of the single most healthies movements the body can make because it helps express the lymphatic system but when the boots go down it absorbs the impact and it helps you bounce back up and that takes the impact off," said Runnels.
Not only is Kangoo a great way to work your muscles, but its fun.
Personal Trainer Cleo Bagwell said, "It makes them feel like kids, they feel that like that euphoria when you were running and you know you didn't have any pounding, no hurting, nothing hurt and it was like ahh this is great."
The exercise could also give you a euphoric sense of being a kid again, because it really does have an effect on your brain.
"After being in the boots twenty to thirty minutes it raises the serotonin level of the brain. The melotonin from the calm and controlled to the euphoric serotonin feeling good and having a lot of energy," said Runnels.
So whether it's for health or fun Kangoo has health benefits for everybody.
