Working out and the Russian Kettlebell
Russian kettlebells are hardly new. The current belief is that they’re approximately three hundred years old. Over the course of the last couple of years, though, they’ve increased in renown to emerge as one of the hottest workouts anywhere in the world. And why not? Kettlebell exercise routines are not complex, don’t call for much in the way of special gear, and there’s no barrier to beginning. You can’t just leap right to the advanced moves, however. As you might expect, the basic routines should be studied first.
Above all, with kettlebells as with all weights, you must be certain you choose the best weight for your workout. You need lighter weights than you’d predict when you use kettlebells for your exercise. Ladies will probably be best suited to an eighteen lb kettlebell, while male beginners are recommended to examine the 35lb size. This is down to the fact that the benefits of a kettlebell workout are linked far more closely to the movements practised than the actual weights used. An educational aid (like a brochure or DVD) is a smart buy when starting out, guaranteeing that you have the techniques involved correct. Starting off, before attempting any of the other Russian kettlebell routines you should master a double-handed swing. As the origin point of many later techniques, the two-handed swing must be dealt with early on — and there’s more to it than you think. The weight should flow freely, without harsh jerks. Lift using your hips, and not with your spine, to guarantee your own physical comfort during the workout. Once you have this move mastered, you’ll be ready to sample a number of the more complicated movements. In order to keep your commitment, variance is key; you can always vary the backing music, move routines in and out of the workout program, etc. Perhaps another set can be factored in once you know what you’re doing, and to punch things up completely you could perhaps even vary the weight of the kettlebells you use. Naturally, you don’t want your workout program to decline in effectiveness, and these hints may help prevent that.
Don’t imagine, though, that a chiseled body and bigger muscles will develop if you use nothing but the kettlebells, mind you. What they will do is help you shed weight, enhance tone, and work on health. A good all round exercise course will be improved by the introduction of a session with the kettlebells. Clearly, the amount you employ them is a matter of individual choice. With only one or two routines per week it’s a nobrainer to maintain your baseline fitness levels, and if you increase to five or six you can burn off excess fat in no time!
