Happy Saturday!
Hope your morning is off to a good start and you are getting more sunshine than we are!
I just finished up teaching two classes, a kettlebell and cardio circuit class followed by TRX in which I chose to incorporate kettlebells in between sets on the TRX. It went really smoothly! A lot of times when we get new equipment, members get excited about new toys but are a bit intimidated by how to approach them and incorporate them into workouts. Using them in class is a great way for me to show them moves they can start doing on their own, in a safe and controlled environment.
So what exactly is all the hype with kettlebells about, you ask? Adding kettlebells to your normal strength routine can take your intensity up to slashing 20 calories a minute! This will get you to 300 in just 15 minutes! This is due to the weight not being evenly distributed throughout each movement causing you to engage your stabilizer muscles as well as the primary muscles being worked. In layman's terms- If your doing a bicep curl, primarily working your biceps, when you use a kettlebell instead of a dumbbell, you will incorporate your stabilizer muscles such as the shoulders and forearms and core as well! More work equals more calories burned! You will likely also feel your heart rate increase much quicker which, of course will give your heart that great workout it needs to grow stronger and work more efficiently.
Here's a basic Kettlebell workout to start out with. Try it out on your own!
Here are some video demos of the moves to help get you started. (Videos are not mine).
Reverse Lunge and Curl (He also adds an overhead press which is optional. I don't LOVE this video because I prefer a lunge that is simultaneous with the curl, rather than the lunge and then the curl. Both ways work).
Plank (He also adds a single arm row which is a great option to add intensity).
Question of the Morning!
Have you ever tried kettlebells? What did you think?
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