I have gone on an on in the past about what makes a kettlebell such a fantastic tool to build overall strength and conditioning.  We have talked about it’s portability, it’s versatility and it’s effectiveness.  The long and the short of it it, you can take it anywhere, you can perform tens if not hundreds of different lifts or combination of lifts and kettlebells get results.  I want to take a minute to talk about the results part because after all, none of the other stuff matters if the results aren’t there.

In order to get the most out of a kettlebell, you have to adopt a new way of thinking when it comes to how you approach your workouts.  It’s this new way of thinking that is really the foundation that creates the results most people experience with kettlebells.

The hardest part of teaching somebody something new is breaking old habits.  Most people who start using kettlebells have already been workout out in one way or another so they already have a certain mindset when it comes to working out.  As we know, change doesn’t come easy.  A lot of times it requires someone to forget what they think they know and trust that what they are being taught works and works better then their old way of doing things.

Most of us, me included, started out in the gym performing some type of variation on a bodybuilding routine.  We performed our barbell and dumbell curls and our dumbell flies and cable crossovers and our leg extensions and crunches.  These are all for the most part isolation type lifts.  They target a few specific muscles while omitting most others.  This is absolutely fine if you are in fact a bodybuilder or if you like spending hours in the gym each week but for most of us, the results we want don’t come soon enough if at all with this type of routine.

With a kettlebell, we learn to train our bodies as one whole unit because that is the way our bodies work.  We also learn to target our muscles from several different angles.  A kettlebell is the perfect tool for doing this because of it’s compact, dense design and the handle which makes it easier and safer to control then dumbells or barbells.

In addition to training our entire body, I teach people to limit the number of exercises per workout and to approach their day in the gym as practice and to not just mindlessly throw the weight around.  The focus on practicing only a few lifts at a time allows for the individual to get good at performing that lift.  They are able to hone their skills which produces better results in a shorter period of time with less injuries.   As I stated, there are hundreds of different lifts or variations there of that we can perform with a kettlebell, but that doesn’t mean we have to practice them all at once.

Lastly, we preach short, focused workouts, no more then 40 to 45 minutes and never to failure.  You should leave the gym energized and not demoralized.  This keeps people coming back for more, again improving the results we see.

These principles are definitely different than what most people were taught when they started working out.  In fact, most people weren’t taught at all, they just saw what others were doing and followed.  Most people don’t know what they are doing so you can see where this leads.

Commit yourself to becoming a student of fitness, not just a mindless gym rat.  Exercise should be an enjoyable part of your life and not looked at as a burden or a necessary evil.  We tend to become better and more consistent when we enjoy an activity then when we dread it.

Yours in Health,

Dennis

P.S. – Have a question about anything I’m doing, email me and I’ll be more then happy to answer it.  ironkettlebellfitness@gmail.com

Before entering into a fitness routine, especially one that incorporates kettlebells, be sure to consult with your physician or medical professional to be sure you are healthy enough to begin a strength and conditioning regimen.  Be sure to learn the proper way to perform each lift and complete each exercises in strict form employing a spotter when applicable.  In other words, if you hurt yourself, it’s your fault.

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