Kettlebells and Keeping Fit
Scarcely a modern innovation is the pair of kettlebells. The popular opinion is that they’re around three centuries old. But over the past few years they’ve risen to worldwide popularity, however, and at the time of writing they’ve grown to be as common as any other workout accessory. They’re easy, simple, don’t need much in the way of unusual gear, and we’re confident anyone could begin immediately. Of course, the trickier moves shouldn’t be used immediately. We recommend that you learn the simple routines first, prior to going for the truly challenging techniques. Above all, with kettlebells as with all weights, you have to ensure that you acquire the right weight for you. Happily, with these kinds of exercises, the weights used are surprisingly light. Typically for women, an 18lb kettlebell can be more than required to start with, and male enthusiasts are generally better off with the 35lb. The weights are remarkably low — you see, with these exercises, it’s all about the routine’s motion as opposed to the amount of weight that is being used. An educational aid — like a DVD or book — is a smart buy at the beginning, guaranteeing that you have the movements involved correct. The two-handed swing should be the initial technique you master when you first take up the Russian kettleball. As the foundation of the majority of kettlebell routines, this ought to be mastered early on — and there’s more to it than you think. Harsh stops, jerky motion — these are not what you want. You also want to ensure your lift doesn’t come from your shoulders — use your hips instead.
Following perfection of this movement, you’re ready to try the more difficult routines. Bring different sets and increased reps into your day’s exercises, and shake things up with an assortment of music to ensure things remain enjoyable. As you become more comfortable carrying out these exercises, try adding another pair of kettlebells into the workout program maybe with a selection of weights. You don’t want your regime to become less effective, and these tips may help avoid that. Something we must point out here is that Russian kettlebells aren’t designed to help you develop your muscle mass or play a role in body building. You should, instead, look to them to shed weight and, also, to improve and maintain all round fitness and health over time. Lastly: fold a session working with the kettlebells into a well rounded keep fit regime. Clearly, the degree to which you use these exercises is a matter of individual choice. If you do one or two routines per week it’s a no brainer to uphold your baseline fitness levels, and if you increase to six or so you can shed excess fat rapidly!
