School pupils bounce in to stars' keep-fit craze

SCOTS schoolgirls are to be introduced to a new celebrity fitness craze, it was announced yesterday after the activity was hailed by stars including Madonna, Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow, Courteney Cox, and Shakira.

Clackmannanshire Council will be the first local authority in Scotland to offer pupils classes in "Urban Rebounding" when lessons resume after the summer holidays.

The craze - "a cardiovascular workout on a mini-trampoline" - is already huge in the United States, and has become popular in parts of England.

The council is training local tutors to introduce the workout to pupils Lornshill Academy, in Alloa, where classes will be held as part of the "fitness for girls" programme during PE lessons.

If classes prove popular at the 1,100-pupil school, urban rebounding will be opened out to Alloa Academy and Alva Academy, and also clubs in the area.

A council spokeswoman said: "Our research shows many teenage girls do not enjoy team sports, like hockey or basketball, but would prefer to do fitness classes.

"Urban rebounding is a safe style of aerobics performed on a mini-trampoline. It provides a surprisingly challenging cardiovascular workout without excess stress on the heart, so is suitable for all fitness levels and ages."