A Russian Approach to Fitness
kettlebells are nothing new. The conjectures accepted by experts date the kettlebell as being developed in the early 1700s. Only recently have they risen to international popularity, and as a result they are as common as any other fitness aid. And why not?
The easier exercise routines can be used by all, no matter their prior keep fit regime, and you don’t need to order expensive apparatus. You can’t just step right into the more complex exercises. Always learn to walk before you run, as the proverbial saying will have it.
Whatever else you do, with Russian kettlebells as with all weight work, you should be certain you pick out the appropriate weight for you. Because of the way you use kettlebells, your weights needn’t be as big as you might have expected. Giving guidelines along gender lines, the 18lb variety is usually right for women just beginning, and males who haven’t done this before should expect to get optimal results using a 35 pounder. Actually, the weights are surprisingly low — you see, with these exercises, it’s all about the activity and not from how much weight is involved. An instructional aid — such as a brochure or DVD — is a smart acquisition at the beginning, ensuring that you’ve got the actions as they’re intended. The double-handed swing is what we recommend to be the first exercise to learn on first taking up the kettleball. As the basis of more advanced exercises, the double-handed swing should be dealt with early — and it looks easier than it is. You should flow freely, with no sudden stops or jerks. A common safety suggestion is worth repeating as you limber up — your back or shoulders are not the best way to lift the weights. Instead, keep the emphasis on your hips. Following perfection of this basic building block, you’re free to take a stab at the more complex motions. Mix up your exercises by adjusting exercises and reps, accompanied perhaps by a selection of music. As you become more comfortable carrying out these maneuvers, consider bringing another pair of kettlebells into the workout program, perhaps even using an assortment of weights. In this way, you’ll keep your muscles exerting at maximum effectiveness and not risk reaching a plateau.
A message we really should state clearly while we are at it is that the kettlebells aren’t going to help you develop muscle mass or play much of a part in body building. What these exercises are designed to do is help you shed weight, tone up, and improve all round fitness and stamina. Really, we recommend introducing a session with the kettlebells into a broader fitness regime. Obviously, the amount you use them is a matter of individual choice. Initially, practise a couple of times during the week for standard fat burning, or pick up the pace and factor in these routines 5-6 times a week. You’ll lose fat quicker than you’d imagine!











