Far from a recent development is the kettlebell. The modern opinion is that they’re around three centuries old. It’s only recently that they’ve skyrocketed to worldwide fame, and by today they are as common as any other fitness aid. So why not try them out?
They’re far from difficult, don’t need much special gear, and we’re confident anyone could start out immediately. You can’t just leap straight into the more advanced routines, however. So, always walk before you run, as they say.
Whatever else you do, with kettlebells as with all weight training, you should be certain you acquire the appropriate weight for your body. Happily, employing kettlebell exercises, it doesn’t take much. Typically for women, an eighteen pound kettlebell can easily be more than enough to start with, and meanwhile male enthusiasts are typically better served by the 35lb. The weights are surprisingly low — as in this workout, the really important part’s the activity as opposed to how much weight is involved. An educational aid (like a book or DVD) is a helpful asset when starting out, making sure that you have the movements perfect. Before attempting any of the other Russian kettlebell exercises you must understand the double-handed swing. This movement acts as the basis of the majority of exercises, and it’s far from as easy as it appears. The weight should move fluidly, avoiding harsh jerks or stops. You also want to check you don’t lift the kettlebell with your back: use your hips.
After you’ve mastered this movement, you can try the more difficult motions. To make sure the kettlebell will keep your dedication, diversity is key; you could perhaps change your accompanying music, rotate routines in and out of your regime, etc. A second pair can be factored in once you know what you’re doing, and to shake the situation up fully you might perhaps even vary the weight of the kettlebells you use. By doing this you have the chance to avoid the effect of boredom which can make regular exercise less effective. It’s essential to bear in mind that if you start employing Russian kettlebells with the intent of developing muscle or for body building, you’re in for a bit of a disappointment. Rather, turn to them to reduce weight and to improve and cultivate all round fitness and health over time.
One last tip, introduce a Russian kettlebell routine to your pre-existing keep fit program. How regularly you pick up the kettlebells is naturally up to you. If you do one or two sessions each week, you can easily support your baseline fitness levels; and if you ramp up to five you can be certain to burn off your fat and lose weight at a good pace.
