One of the best things about my health/wellness niche is trying all the fantastic products on the market. Lately I've been swinging with the KettleWorX DVDs. Yowser! These short burst workouts are fantastic and I'd highly recommend them, although one DVD is likely enough as the others are repetitious. Better yet, join me at the Ashland Yoga Studio to get the benefits of a fantastic workout combined with the energy of like-minded women and men who want to get and/or stay in shape without spending hours at the gym.
I discovered kettlebells in 2007 when I signed up for what I thought was a cardio tap class. Ha! I was totally freaked out when I walked into the studio for the three-day training and saw all those great big bells. Yikes! I was trying to sneak my way out the back door but no go. The lead trainer made me stay, and am I glad I did. After a day I was hooked on the functional fitness and speed of results.
The cast iron kettlebell looks like a cannonball with a handle on top. I prefer the colored variety but no matter if they're black, blue, red, yellow or pink, swinging and lifting any color kettlebell results in a heart-pumping and body-toning workout in 30 minutes or less. And that's honestly all that I can or want to do... ditto for my students. At 30 minutes, they're begging for core conditioning Pilates.
Here's why kettlebells work so well. In contrast to lifting dumbbells with weights on both ends and a fixed center of gravity, kettlebells put the weight below your grip. As you hold the handle and swing the bell, the shifting center of gravity results in dynamic moves that build functional fitness by mimicking movements in your everyday life such as picking up a bag of groceries, carrying a suitcase or lifting a child.
In kettlebelling, power is projected from your core’s strength, while bringing speed out to the arms. The movements are similar to the counterbalance one experiences when swinging a golf club, and a single workout encompasses all ranges of motions so joints and muscles are strengthened from all angles.
A mere 10 swings will get your heart pumping, 20-30 reps will skyrocket aerobic endurance, and slow lifts and squats build strength. The payoff of these short burst workouts? A stronger core, more lean muscle, better posture, improved balance and the strength you need to stay energized all day.
Join me every Tuesday morning for a fat-burning kettlebell workout followed by core conditioning Pilates. You'll see results fast, guaranteed. Click here for the class schedule, and join me for a swinging good time!
Leslie Hamp, STOTT PILATES® Certified Instructor
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