How Kettlebell Training Can Boost Your Health & Fitness
Posted in General Information on February 8th, 2012 by lhannam – Be the first to commentThe chances are you’ve heard some of the buzz surrounding the kettle bell workout craze that has infiltrated gyms and fitness studios across America. A kettle bell is a cannon ball like iron weight with a handle that is then utilized in various kettle bell exercises. Kettle bell training originated in Russia several centuries ago when these weights were used for fitness training by Russian soldiers and athletes.
This type of exercise gained some steam in the 50′s and 60′s with American bodybuilders, but then gradually died down in popularity until its revival of the last few years. Now many fitness trainers and health professionals alike are hailing the health benefits of kettle bell workouts and they are becoming a prominent piece of equipment in many people’s home gyms.
Here are 5 kettlebell benefits for health and fitness:
1. Kettle Bells are an Effective Calorie Burner
Certain kettlebell moves can burn up to 21 calories per minute, which is substantially more than most dumbbell or cardio machine workouts will give you. So if you have a hectic schedule such as juggling multiple jobs or finishing your law degree, you can still find time for a quick yet very effective workout by utilizing kettle bell weights.
2. Kettle Bells can Help Ease Back and Neck Ache
If you have a job that requires you to be on your feet all day, such as a registered nurse or restaurant server, you will probably have experienced some kind of body ache. Luckily, recent studies have shown that kettle bell work outs can help ease back and neck ache and also strengthen their muscles. So rather than taking it easy when back and neck ache strikes, try reaching for some kettle bells instead.
3. Kettle Bell Exercises can Incorporate Multiple Muscles
Unlike regular dumbbell reps, using a kettle bell correctly can help tone and strengthen multiple muscles in your body at a time. This can help cut out exercise time and can in turn help you get the results you want a lot faster. A kettlebell workout can therefore give you a cardio and resistance training workout simultaneously.
4. Kettle Bells Can Improve Your Flexibility
If you find yoga or Pilates boring, you will be happy to learn that kettle bell workouts can help improve your flexibility without the need for long and extended poses that yoga and Pilates typically entail. Many kettlebells workout exercises stretch and elongate muscles which can be great for erasing body aches and also boosting your overall flexibility levels.
5. Kettle Bells Will Strengthen Your Core
Any avid exerciser knows the importance of having a strong core. Luckily kettle bell workouts incorporate all of your ab and many of your back muscles so you will be able to rapidly increase your core strength with this type of workout. A weak core can cause back problems later in life, so kettle bells are a safe and quick way to prevent this from happening.
The kettle bell workout has so many health benefits and fitness wise it can help tone and strengthen your entire body. You will probably want to attend a few classes to get the gist of it before you invest in your own pair of kettlebells but once you’re a seasoned pro you can enjoy working out from the privacy of your home. It may seem like a very difficult workout at first but hang in there – the rewards are more than worth it! Good luck!
