Steve Haywood Health & Fitness

A Kettlebell originally resembled a cannonball with a handle on the top, today they come in variations of this in weights from around 2kg upwards. It is believed they were first used in Russia in the 1930s both by civilians and the army. The idea is to string together different movements which develop all aspects of the musculo- skeletal system and have the added benefit of also using the cardiovascular system, in other words a truly complete workout.

It is imperative that a beginner seeks the help of a qualified personal trainer or gym instructor to be shown a safe and effective workout with an appropriate weight. It is not using the heaviest weight that benefits the individual but the gradual building up of a continuous workout. Kettlebell workouts are gaining in popularity, why not give it a go and find out why.

Kettlebells are available from John Lewis from £14.50

Marcy Russian Kettlebells

I use this book:  “Kettlebells: Strength Training for Power and Grace” by Smith Vatel & Victoria Gray for guiding me through the workouts. It is available from the following retailers:

Amazon from £4

Kettlebells: Strength training for power and grace

Blackwells from £7.99

Play.com from £40 (hardback)