Despite being nothing more than an iron ball with a fixed handle, the kettlebell has stood
the test of time, as it's history can be traced as far back as the Ancient Greeks. The kettlebell provides the combined
beneifts of cardio and weight training in one devastatingly effective fitness tool. Because the nature of a kettlebell
constantly forces you to control and stabilise both your body and the bell, it provides a unique training effect that no other
exercise form comes close to duplicating.
How it Works
Before we start we need to explain why Kettlebells are so different to other forms of resistance
equipment, then we can understand more deeply the specific benefits provided by the kettlebell.
Any weight will fight the gravitational pull of the earth, but with the kettlebell's sphere
being suspended below the handle, this increases it's pull towards the ground and away from the body. Which also provides
an additional 'joint' or 'link' in the chain for the client to control as opposed to a dumbbell or barbell that can be 'balanced'
during an exercise.
The body's muscles are constantly working in order to simply control the kettlebell and when
swinging the kettlebell you need strength, speed and co-ordination within the body's movement in order to get the kettlebell
up. But as it comes down to the ground it is gaining speed, which has to be controlled and then pulled against in order
to swing it back up to the top. At the bottom of a kettlebell swing, it is estimated that you will be pulling between
four and seven times it's actual weight.
The Benefits
Strength training lacks the appeal that other forms of exercise, such as yoga and aerobics
enjoy. However, the benefits of strength training are absolutely essential to any health and fitness programme.
Few people realise just how dependent our emotional, mental and bodily well-being are upon our physical fitness, especially
as strength training is the only scientifically proven activity that positively influences such things as muscle strength
and mass, body fat, bone density, basal metabolic rate, blood sugar tolerance, blood pressure and aerobic capacity; all things
which decline with age.
What can be achieved with Kettlebell Training
- Kettlebell training is famous for fat burning.
- General health and fitness, as well as anti-ageing.
- For strength and power, sports specific.
- For Bodybuilders
- Rehabilitation and Pre-habilitation.
