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Sweat to Something New: Kettlebells

posted by ChickSpeak
Sunday, May 30, 2010 at 3:06pm CDT

From jazzercise to Zumba, a plethora of newfangled exercise regimens hit the market almost continuously. When my mom, a personal trainer, invited me to hit the gym with her to test out a new program she was offering to her clients, I didn’t think anything of it. As a fit young woman, I figured it wouldn’t be too difficult to keep up.

I was wrong.

Not only was I huffing and puffing the whole time, but by the end, my muscles had entered a new realm of exhaustion.

It was awesome.

The intense workout was with Kettlebells: an exercise tool which, for almost a decade, was the turn-to for strong weight lifters looking to increase their training. Years ago, the practice originated in Russia, when villagers began throwing around counter-weights in markets. Recently, it emerged to the recreational crowd as a way to develop muscle tone fast.

Described as a bowling ball with a handle, Kettlebells are perfect to use at home because they’re small and compact. According to an article on Squidoo, they are especially useful for women: since exercises with swinging movements help speed up the metabolism, they help with weight loss. “High rep ballistic exercises and circuit training with Kettlebells really boost [one’s metabolism],” the article reads.

While some argue that Kettlebells are just the same dumbbells, there really is a difference: when used in swinging exercises or “press and pull” movements similar to weights, with each repetition, the muscles engage more. According to Sonoma F.I.T., “The displacement of the weight from the hand requires that the stabilizing muscles engage more with each movement than would be required of a similar movement with [another sort of weight]. Kettlebell exercises are whole-body exercises requiring full body integration and core stabilization. There is no such thing as isolated muscle work in Kettlebell training.”

Interested in the craze?

So are the myriad of fitness centers across the country that have begun to offer Kettlebell classes and programs. There are even Kettlebell-only gyms located throughout the fifty states; head to this search tool on Lift Kettlebells to find one near you.

To exercise at home, be sure to purchase appropriate sized Kettlebells. It is recommended that one starts off with smaller weights. Sports Authority and Modell’s both sell a vast majority of types and sizes; for online purchases, check out Google Products, which makes comparisons using a lot of information, ensuring a great buy.

A great option for Kettlebell-interested Chicks is workout DVDs. Some are even specifically created for women, such as The Kettlebell Goddess Workout. On the tape, Andrea DuCane, who has been described as the leader in women’s Kettlebell training, teaches almost two and a half hours of routines. It’s available at DragonDoor for only $29.95. (DuCane hosts an abundance of Kettlebell events in major cities; check the schedule on her site for more information.)

Another DVD is the Kettlebell Boot Camp with Angie Miller, available from WalMart for only $17.32. Great exercise for almost a steal!

Stay Safe

When trying out Kettlebells for the first time, tread the waters carefully. Every year, tons of women and men alike end up in doctors offices and emergency rooms from improper exercise, including erroneous Kettlebell incidents, resulting in pulled or torn muscles, broken bones, and state-of-the-art exercise equipment gathering dust in the corner. Be careful! Before heading out on your own, check out a Kettlebell class taught by a certified instructor to get the 411 on safety and proper technique.

Maxine Frendel is a writer from New Jersey who recommends that everyone check out the new Kettlebells craze. Not only are they fun, they get you in great shape! Bikini season, anyone?