So You Need Guidance Concerning the Russian Kettlebell, Eh?
Scarcely a modern kind of weight is the kettlebell. The current belief would have them about three hundred years old. It’s only recently that they’ve shot to international fame, and by today they are as popular as any fitness aid. And who could deny it was well deserved?
They’re easy, simple, don’t need much special paraphernalia, and there’s no barrier to starting out. We wouldn’t advise jumping immediately to the more complicated routines, though. So, always walk before you run, as they say. Whatever else you do, with kettlebells as with any weight work, you should make sure that you acquire the right weight for your body. Happily, using kettlebell exercises, it doesn’t take much. Typically for female kettlebell users, an eighteen pound kettlebell can easily be more than required when starting out, and meanwhile male kettlebell users are better off with the thirty five lb weights. Indeed, the weights are remarkably light – this is because in these exercises, it’s all about the activity as opposed to the size of the weight that is involved. It can also be smart to hunt out an instructional pamphlet or DVD to guide you and make certain you carry out the movements exactly right.
The two-handed swing should be the initial exercise you learn when you first take up the kettleball. As the common element of many later kettlebell routines, this must be dealt with early – and there’s more to it than you’d expect. Everything ought to glide fluidly, with no hasty stops. A worthwhile health tip is worth restating as you limber up: your back are not the way to lift. You should, instead, keep the emphasis on your hips.
If you feel you’ve got all of that, you’ll be able to move on – you’ll be ready to tackle advanced routines. Shake up your routine by adjusting exercises and reps, accompanied perhaps by different varieties of music. As you get comfortable with these exercises, look at adding a second set of Russian kettlebells into your regime and even an assortment of weights. Of course, you don’t want your keep fit program to lose its effect, and these suggestions should help you avoid the issue. You shouldn’t nurture the idea, though, that a well defined body and larger muscles will develop if you use nothing but the kettlebells. What they’ll do is keep your weight down, enhance muscle tone, and improve all-round health and stamina. Finally: fold a Russian kettlebell session into a broader exercise course. Of course, the amount you use them will vary according to personal taste. Initially, go for a couple of times over the course of the week for standard fat burning; or turn up the heat and factor in these workouts 5-6 times a week. You’ll be lean faster than you’d imagine.
