Sunday afternoon patrons of Barrow Brewing Co. in Salado got an introductory course in working out with kettlebell weights.
Brian Lehmann, a former strength and conditioning coach, said that as a dietitian at Fort Hood he makes fitness training a component of teaching good eating habits. He polled the brewery crowd, and about half of them indicated they have used kettlebells.
In his lecture, he emphasized precision in the various kettlebell exercises, especially when working with children. Primary benefits of the workouts are building core strength, mood enhancement and toning the cardiovascular system, he said.
A simple exercise with kettlebells is to carry one in each hand and just walk around, Lehmann said. Or, you can lift one kettlebell overhead, walk until you’re tired, drop it to the rack position — under your chin — and then drop it to the side position.
Kettlebell Krusher Says:
It really is as simple as walking around with a kettlebell. Don’t expect to get buff from doing that alone, but it is a great way to familiarize yourself with a kettlebell. Recently, I’ve been seeing a lot of videos for another simple exercise that involves walking with the kettlebell. It’s called the Bottoms Up.
If you’re wondering how it is performed, it is exactly as it sounds. The base of the kettlebell is above the handle which you hold in your hand while walking. It might look a little strange, but it is a great way to increase grip strength and balance. It’s not an exhausting exercise by any means.
I have to agree with Mr. Lehmann in regards to the mood enhancement. Mental health is not something that is often thought of when working out. Eating well and staying fit absolutely helps to improve mood and clarity of the mind. I’d consider it a positive side effect when exercising with kettlebells. Of course, the primary reason for most people is to lose weight or gain strength.
If you check out the source article, you’ll see that a 10-pound kettlebell is used for demonstrating exercises to the attendees. It’s nice to read that the instructor isn’t trying to impress the crowd with 25, 35, or even 50-pound kettlebell exercises. The truth is most exercises can be done regardless of how heavy the kettlebell is. 10 pounds is a perfect starter weight as an introduction to kettlebell workouts.
