Kettlebells aren’t just for strongmen anymore! In fact, kettlebell training has become so popular with the home fitness enthusiast, that it is starting to become the hottest home exercise equipment on the market today. The kettlebell is an ancient cast iron or steel ball with a handle on the top to easily lift and throw. It’s used to do many forms of exercises, which include core strengthening, cardiovascular training, and plyometric workouts that combine strength, endurance and flexibility.
Many people think of the kettlebells as being like a cannonball (or something similar) that you throw back and forth, but that’s not the case at all. When you lift with the bell the weight is centered on your body, so you don’t need a lot of upper-body strength to engage in a basic kettlebell exercise. You can use a lighter weight for the squat to start off with, and as you progress, you can add weights as you feel more comfortable and build your muscle endurance. With that said, here are some kettlebell squat exercises to get you started:
The first exercise is called the high pull. To perform this exercise, place the kettlebells between your legs and stand with your feet shoulder width apart. Bring the bell down to your chest and contract your quads and glutes. At the same time, forcefully flex your shoulders and let them “go” (don’t be scared of making a loud noise). As you bring the bell back up, keep your arms straight and finish the rep by returning to the starting position.
The second exercise that we’re going to look at involves an overhead position. In order to perform these exercises, you’ll need a rack to hang from. While you stand in a straight position, use one arm to hold the free end of the kettlebell above your head while you rotate your body to face the sky so that your other arm is behind you and slightly bent over. Next, bring the weight down to your chest again while keeping your arms straight and contract your quads and glutes as you bring the kettlebell back up to your chest. Finish the rep by returning to the beginning position.
Another exercise that you can do with kettlebells is the single kettlebell swing. To perform this exercise, you’ll need a two-handed kettlebell and a barbell. The first thing that you’ll want to do is get into a standing position. Next, grip the barbell with your palms facing inward and your elbows bent and locked out. Next, extend your legs so that your body is basically parallel to the ground while you bring the barbell up to your waist.
After you’ve brought the bell back to your waist, squeeze it against your ribs so that it comes out of your sides. From here, you should repeat the motion using your other hand while making sure that you’re using proper form. This is an effective workout for both the upper and lower body. The kettlebell swing is also great for increasing your fitness level, because it’s a great cardiovascular workout. Plus, it’s a great way to tone all of your muscles at once.
Now let’s take a look at another related story about kettlebells and the posterior chain. In this story, I’m going to tell you about a group of muscles that are related to the gluteal muscles but aren’t typically thought of as part of the group. Gluteal muscles include the semitendinosus, semimembranosus, and biceps femoral muscles. All of these muscles play an important role when it comes to running, jumping, throwing, and other related activities. They allow you to vertically lift your legs, generate explosive power, and transfer force throughout the body. As you may not know, the posterior chain is very important in running, and so it’s vital to improve this area.
So, in this related story I’m going to tell you about a very interesting group of muscles: the shoulder girdle. These muscles are incredibly tight and important because they help you maintain proper posture. For runners, this means that having a good shoulder girdle is important. A poor shoulder girdle can prevent you from being able to run properly and can cause a lot of pain. To get the most out of your workouts, use a double-arm kettlebell workout to work the shoulder girdle. Not only will you be able to add more weight to your lifts and have a better posture, but you’ll be adding muscle mass to your upper body as well.