If you’ve been doing my workouts for a while you know I love to workout with kettlebells.   In fact, the traditional kettlebell swing could be my favorite exercise ever (as If I’d be able to pick just one).  Kettlebells are not only a great tool to strengthen, they are known for getting your heart rate up and working several muscle groups at the same time.

I’m often asked to explain the difference between working out with kettlebells over your traditional dumbbells.  Before trying them myself, I wondered the same thing. But after my first few workouts, I fell in love with kettlebells and have been working it into my exercise routine ever since.

I will always remind you that you don’t much equipment, if any, to get a great workout at home.  But these days when so many of us are working out in our living rooms and garages, having a few tools to mix it up can help both your body and brain from getting bored, and generally gets you more excited for the workout. Here are some ways that kettlebell training can challenge you and push you past the plateau.

TOTAL BODY WORKOUT:  Kettlebells work your body for strength, flexibility, balance, mobility, endurance and power.  Using a kettlebell gets your heart pumping for a high intensity workout without the impact of jumping or running.

POWER:   The amplified power output you get using a kettlebell is one of the things that sets them apart.  Moves like swings or cleans increases power output which makes you stronger, faster, and able to produce power with endurance.

HIGHLY FUNCTIONAL: Using momentum in many kettlebell exercises creates centrifugal force, creating multi-directional movement that mimics a lot of things we do in real life! Picking your kids up, walking while holding a suitcase, packing things into your car—the strength and power you gain from kettlebell training can help you train for activities of daily living.

CORE & COORDINATION: Because the center of gravity is further away from your grip, it forces your body to learn to adjust to gravitational changes and pushes your core to stay engaged.

EASIER ON THE BODY: I know it sounds counterintuitive when it comes to things like swings, but the FLOW of many kettlebell exercises and the weight distribution of the bell is often easier on your joints and you’re able to go harder longer.

Bottom line if you haven’t tried kettlebell training before, try it!  I think you’ll love it!

Give a kettlebell workout a try this week and find one on my kettlebell playlist here

Also, if you’ve never done a swing before, be sure to watch this first

And you can find my favorite kettlebells here