It is about the size & shape of a cannonball,
depending on the weight, with a handle. Made from cast iron. They come in
variety of weights from 8lbs up to 106 lbs.
For Men & Women
Since
Kettlebells can
help build muscle, tone you up and promote weight loss, they are perfect for
both men & women.
It is
total body conditioning workout. Your back, shoulders, arms, legs & abs all
will benefit.
What
size should I start with? The average man should start with a 35lb
Kettlebell and the average woman with an 18lb.
It may seem heavy when you first start out. But
once you get comfortable with the movements it will, in most cases, be fine.
I almost made the mistake of getting a 20lb'er
to start because it felt heavy. I'm glad I went with the 35lb.
As you get used to using it, you may want to
get additional weights for different exercises. Possibly even a pair of the
same weight.
How do I
use it? There are many exercises to do with this. I would
recommend getting the dvd 'Enter
The Kettlebell' by Pavel Tsatsouline.
It's great video on the basics. And I find
Pavel entertaining, almost comic like to listen to.
The basic move is the called the swing.
Grab the handle with both hands. Stand straight with your legs shoulder
width apart. While bending your knees, lean forward at the waist. Similar to
as if you were going to sit on a low chair. Your head should face straight
ahead and your back is arched.
Let the kettelbell hang loosely between your legs. Swing the weight from
between the legs to about shoulder height. Keep your arms extended. Use your
hips, thighs and lower back muscles to snap the weight up.
A variation of this is to do them with one hand and also alternating hands
in mid swing. I wouldn’t recommend this until you’re comfortable handling
the kettlebell.
You need
to make sure you keep your back in the right position and don't let go of
the Kettlebell!
For a ton
of great information, articles, mens & womens start up kits
vist Pavel.
Kettlebell Training
I've known about Kettlebells for a number of
years now. They have been around alot longer that that though.
They have definitely increased in popularity in
the past few years. And rightly so I believe.
I started training with them about a year ago. And I'm
very happy with the workout they provide.
I saw my shoulder definition increase along
with my abs. I don't have the full blown six-pack yet but this is definitely
helping.
What is a Kettlebell?
The best way to describe it is, well show a picture...
