What's So Great About Kettlebells?
The reason for the boost in kettlebell training popularity is that it gets back to basic training which requires functional, whole body fitness. Kettlebells require you to focus on whole-body conditioning because lifting and controlling a kettlebell forces the entire body, and specifically the core, to work as a group, building both strength and stability at the same time. Kettlebell workouts engage multiple muscle groups at once. In this way, they are a great option for getting a whole body workout in a short time.
Here's a good article on "How to Improve Your Golf Swing With Kettlebells".
Also, the American Council on Exercise (ACE) has published an independant study of the effectiveness of Kettlebell training. It's in the January 2010 issue of their newsletter and is called "Kettlebells: Twice the Results in Half the Time?"
Kettlebell Safety
It's important to start slow and get some training when using kettlebells. Like any exercise program, when used incorrectly, kettlebells can cause injuries. Proper use of this cast iron weight requires strength, coordination and lots of practice with a light weight before increasing weight. Each kettlebell exercise involves multiple joints and many muscle groups working together. It takes most athletes time to adjust to these new movement patterns that are often different than traditional weight-lifting moves. To master these movement patterns requires guidance, instruction and patience. After the basics are mastered, increasing the weight provides a strength workout unmatched by machines or even dumbbells.
If you do a search of “kettlebell” on YouTube, here are a few of the videos you might find:
Kettlebell Training At Infinity Pilates
The Hottest New Fitness Trend From the 18th Century
What are Kettlebells?
Kettlebells originated in Russia with the first recorded mention of them occurring in 1704 in a Russian dictionary. Kettlebells gained recognition as a superb weight loss tool when they were featured in the fitness magazine Hercules in 1913. The kettlebell is a cast iron weight looking somewhat like a cannonball with a handle. It's become a popular exercise tool in the United States due largely to the efforts of Pavel Tsatsouline, a strength and flexibility coach. Many companies produce their own brands of kettlebells and kettlebell exercise programs. Kettlebell workouts are intended to increase strength, endurance, agility and balance, challenging both the muscular and cardiovascular system with dynamic, total-body movements. Kettlebell lifting has been nationally recognized and in recent years become popular among athletes and those in the entertainment community. The kettlebell has a reputation as being able to condition the whole body with a relatively simple plan.
Here at Infinity Pilates we compliment kettlebell training with separate Pilates classes to provide a full range of workouts that will make you stonger, fitter and more flexible than you've ever been.
A one pood (16 kg or 35 lb)
kettlebell
Infinity Pilates
