FAQ

Q: What if I’m uncoordinated?

A: No matter how uncoordinated you are, you can still learn to juggle. In JuggleFit classes, we’ve found that when someone tells the instructor they are uncoordinated, they are the first ones in the class to be able to juggle! Everyone looks uncoordinated when they first learn to juggle since this is a new movement pattern for the body. This is one of the reasons juggling is good for you — it improves your coordination while challenging your body and brain in new ways. In fact, those who take longer to learn are actually getting even more of a benefit – they are getting more brain exercise. And the learning process itself is exercise, you are still burning calories and getting fit and toned!

Q: How long does it take to learn to juggle?

A: Many people can learn to juggle with JuggleFit scarves in 15 minutes or less. Learning with balls usually takes longer – some learn in as little as 15 minutes, others may take one or more hours. Once you have the pattern and concepts down from learning with scarves, its just a matter of time and daily practice before you are juggling with balls. The JuggleFit Beginner and Intermediate DVDs are designed so you can practice with them every day. Trainer Heather Wolf has taught thousands to juggle, and knows all of the common pitfalls people may experience when learning. The DVDs contain detailed troubleshooting and drills that make it easy to learn and prevent any bad habits that might affect your learning. No matter how long it takes you to learn to juggle, you are still burning calories and getting all of the benefits of juggling!

Q: How many calories do you burn when juggling?

A: Learning and practicing juggling burns up to 280 calories per hour, about the same as walking at a moderate pace. As with any exercise, exact calorie burn depends on body weight. Dropping balls and picking them up will increase the number of calories you burn. You can also learn new juggling moves and patterns that increase your calorie expenditure.

Q: Is juggling good for the brain? Can it help prevent Alzheimer’s?

A: No doubt about it, juggling is awesome for brain fitness! It exercises problem solving skills and improves visual-motor coordination, making it a fun and active way to give your brain a workout. Juggling has been proven to grow gray matter in the brain in just 7 days – here’s the study. More recently, it’s also been proven to increase white matter.

Q: What’s the best equipment to use for juggling?

A: It’s best to learn with JuggleFit juggling scarves (scarves come free with the beginner dvd) Once you can juggle with scarves, it’s best to use JuggleFit professional juggling balls, which do not bounce and are the perfect size and weight for juggling.

If you don’t have JuggleFit balls, try using small oranges or tangerines. And for a simple scarf substitute, try plastic grocery bags (adults only, please – bags may be hazardous for children.) Never use sharp, heavy or dangerous objects when juggling for fitness.

Q: I’m an athlete. Can juggling improve my game?

A: Definitely. Juggling will greatly improve your hand-eye coordination, reaction time and balance. It will also help with your mental game by clearing your mind when under pressure to to perform. Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver “A.J” Green credit his amazing catching ability to being able to juggle. Read about it here.