No matter what fitness blog you look at, nearly all agree that the best ways to describe kettlebells are: “underused” and “versatile”. But have you given a kettlebell workout a chance yet?
Some people shy away from ‘bell workouts' because there’s a lingering perception some of the workouts can be complex. As a kettlebell newbie, without an instructor you can be left staring at this piece of equipment at home with no idea of how to start using it for fitness progress.
But now with so many of us having switched to at-home workouts and livestreaming classes during lockdown, this workout tool is having its day in the sun!
Why should I try a kettlebell workout?
Whether you’re trying to build up muscle, trim down, or find the ultimate total-body workout, a kettlebell workout is a pretty amazing way to achieve your fitness goals. It has been proven that a good kettlebell workout can:
- Build and maintain overall strength
- Improve coordination, core-strength, stability, and balance
- Enhance your aerobic and anaerobic fitness
- Improves grip strength (hey climbers, we’re looking at you!)
- Burn fat
It makes for a pretty, pretty good all-in-one conditioning tool. Perhaps it’s no surprise that so many people call this the ‘all-round workout.’ But if it has such awesome effects on the body, it’s strange why it’s still underused?
If the main blocker for you is that you don’t have the equipment for these home workouts, it might be worth investing in a good bell if the below workouts tickle your fancy. Here are some great kettlebells you can buy for your at-home workouts:
- Reebok Kettlebell (4kg)
- Neoprene Covered Kettlebells (4kg, 20kg & 22kg)
- Rogue Kettlebells (Iron Ore) (4kg - 68kg)
Remember, kettlebells are such a versatile piece of equipment for home fitness - you can integrate it into many different workouts to ramp up resistance to increase your muscle definition and strength.
5 of the Best At-Home Kettlebell Workouts
Here are some of the most highly rated kettlebell workouts that you can find on our live-streaming membership. Move At Home, right now.
We recommend livestreaming these workouts if it’s your first time dealing with kettlebells. And the bonus of livestreaming a new workout is that you get an instructor who can give step-by-step instructions so you’re working as efficiently as possible and they can offer adjustments to your technique as they can see you on camera.
None of these classes are exclusively for advanced ‘kettlebellers.’ So long as you have a kettlebell at home, we’re confident that you’ll get a lot of these classes if you give them a try.
For new kids on the kettlebell block
If you’ve never worked with kettlebells before, you might not be sure as to what kinds of exercises you can do with them. Step forward NDM Sports and Personal Training, then, who have designed a kettlebell workout for beginners.
This clever yet simple class guides you through the fundamentals of training with kettlebells, teaching you the basic moves like the Kettlebell Swing or the Turkish Get-Up.
It’s still a full-body workout, so you’re going to feel the benefits throughout your body.
Once you feel comfortable with the movements, and you’ve grown a taste for the kettlebell life, NDM also offers an advanced class with more complex moves and a more intense overall experience. Ding, and indeed, dong.
The kettlebell fan favourite
Low impact, high intensity: that’s Fitness Hub Plus Kettlercise Class in a nutshell. Kettlercise uses low-weight kettlebells coupled with high reps in dynamic, non-stop movements to take that heart rate through the roof.
The use of low weights means that the class is open to anyone of any fitness level. Additionally, if you can’t do any of the moves, alternative instructions are always available for you to make sure you’re getting the most out of the class.
Described as a “body-sculpting, muscle-building, calorie and glute-burning workout”, what really seems to make this class stand out as a Move At Home favourite is the friendly and professional service which the instructor provides.
The kettlebell try-before-you-buy workout
What if you do fancy trying a ‘bell workout but you’re not 100% convinced you want to spend your money on buying a set of kettlebells just yet? Fair enough!
Even though kettlebells are relatively cheap and surprisingly easy to store away, there is a way around having to buy them.
Fitness providers like Brighton Kettlebells – Sports Café offer the option of renting kettlebells (so long as you’re in the Brighton & Hove area). This means you can try out this exciting workout without having to make a financial outlay.
This kind of service is what sets Brighton Kettlebells apart. Not only do they offer an intense, fast-paced class that will work your whole body while burning fat and building muscle, but they will also break down the barriers to entry by providing you with an easy opportunity to get hold of the equipment.
The holistic kettlebell workout
If you’ve been loving your intense, shorter kettlebell classes but now you’re looking for a little something extra, something to just push you outside of your comfort zone, then consider Kettlebell Smash with Tony.
This class is also a condensed, 30-minute class but with the added optional extra of a 30 minute stretching cool-down session afterwards. An intensive stretch class like this will really help to improve your flexibility as well as your recovery time and overall kettlebell performance.
Because kettlebell classes are a whole body workout, it is important to take the time to stretch out each and every muscle. Plus the more flexible you are, the more you’re protecting your joints and muscles from injury. But, if you don’t have an extra 30 minutes to spare, Tony does provide a 10-minute stretching on-demand video so you don’t lose out.
The kettlebell workout for the time-poor
Want to try a kettlercise class but rarely have 50 minutes to spare? We hear you.
Life can get hella busy and since we’re all now doing everything from home, it can feel like the divisions which made up the work-life balance have evaporated.
But the dream team over at Total Rebuild Fitness and Strength have got your back on this one. Their OVid -30 High Intensity Kettlebell and Bodyweight Class is perfect if you want all the benefits of a hardcore kettlebell class but only have limited windows of time.
With a focus on fat loss and cross-training for sports, this 30-minute class is designed for those who want to work out hard, and work out fast.
Get involved!
One of the things that has driven the at-home fitness revolution during the pandemic is the huge variety on offer. On-demand or livestream, the sudden explosion in choice coupled with the convenience of being able to try activities at-home and away from prying eyes has led to far greater experimentation.
Kettlebell workouts are no exception to that pattern either. Versatile they will remain but ‘underused’? In the future, we don’t think so… Give kettlebells a chance - they won’t disappoint.
