Kettlebell Basics Checklist: Everything You Need to Know to Get Started
The First Steps to Falling in Love with Kettlebell Workouts
Kettlebell workouts are super fun and super effective, which explains much about their popularity. There are many kettlebell training benefits. They can help you to improve your strength, flexibility, mobility, cardio, and endurance. They are also affordable, and easily transportable. You can train with them anywhere. Whether you are recovering from injury or training for other fitness goals, kettlebell workouts can help you.
We asked Jenna Langhans (one of our trainers) to explain about getting started with kettlebells. Here’s what she says about the kettlebell basics.
To start, develop a good foundation in kettlebell basics
As with any type of exercise or physical activity, it’s crucial to have a good foundation. So, the first thing we do here for those who are going to make the move to kettlebells is to make sure they have a good foundation.
We offer one-to-one kettlebell classes for those who want to join our Kettlebell Club. If you don’t, but would prefer to continue with one-to-one coaching, then that’s fine, too. But this initial burst of individual training helps to prepare you for the club and the physical demands of a group class.
There are a few standard kettlebell movements that you’ll need to be able to do. We’ve put videos together to demonstrate these, including common mistakes to avoid:
Having a basic knowledge of all these techniques before joining the Kettlebell Club is crucial. They are part of the class (both in-person and virtual), and you’ll need to feel comfortable to do them – this will ensure that you don’t get hurt or left behind.
One word of warning about the videos. We have taken every precaution to make certain that they cover all you need to know about each exercise. We take you through them in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step format. But there is no substitution for focused training – in-person or online – in which the trainer can watch your technique and help correct small errors that you may not notice yourself.
Work in small classes
If you are working in a group, we recommend that you make sure it is small enough to get individual attention.
For example, we limit our Kettlebell Club numbers and deliver the training through a set program. As we’ve discussed above, you’ll need to demonstrate that you have the foundational skills to join the club.
The small number of participants in each club class allows the trainer to make sure that he or she understands individuals’ stressors and injuries, how each person is feeling, how their sleep has been, the other exercise and activities they have been doing, and so on. This way, we can tailor it to the individual within the group setting.
We can’t stress enough how critical it is that we find a safe starting point for each of our clients.
Always work with certified kettlebell coaches
There are a lot of videos and kettlebell training available, but you should be mindful of the training you receive. There is plenty that can go wrong if you don’t get effective training from certified kettlebell coaches.
All the coaches who train kettlebells at Reload are certified through either RKC or StrongFirst. This makes an incredible difference to our clients:
We know how to get you to where you want to be because we’ve been through the training process ourselves
We understand your frustrations and the possible roadblocks
We also know the most effective way to get you from where you are now to where you want to be
It’s also worth noting that our coaches don’t stand still. We’re learning all the time, onboarding the best ways to do things, and re-learning techniques. Our goal? To help our clients reach their goals, achieve long-term fitness, and remain pain-free.
Kettlebell workouts: Expect them to be tough, fun, and rewarding
Clients often ask us how they should expect to feel after a kettlebell class (especially if it’s their first one). The short answer is that nothing that is worth doing is easy, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun.
Your first kettlebell class is probably going to be tough. It will be a lot of fun, too. You’ll work up a sweat, for sure, and a thirst for more. You’ll feel the burn, and you’ll feel the reward.
Not everyone can pick up a kettlebell and know how to swing it, snatch it, clean it, squat it, etc. You start with never having touched a kettlebell before, and then slowly progress over time. You’ll get to a point where you have a bunch of kettlebell skills – and that’s not something that everyone can do.
We have a wide diversity of people who take our kettlebell classes, and many will go home enthused about what they have learned and achieved. They fall in love with it. They teach it to their significant others, their parents, their siblings, and their friends.
The other part of the reward, of course, is that the progress you make is very real. You’ll see and feel it. For example, when you first start out, you’ll get what we call ‘kettlebell kisses’ – small bruises on your wrists and arms where the kettlebell is banging on it. Once your technique starts cleaning up, you don’t get them anymore.
Every session, you progress more and more. With each step in your progress, your confidence will grow, and that helps you to progress faster. You’ll feel better physically and mentally. (Kettlebell workouts are great for stress relief!).
We love kettlebells at Reload – they help our clients train and progress in their long-term fitness goals. Maybe this is the real reason so many of our clients fall in love with kettlebells.
Would you like to learn more about what we do and how we can help you toward your fitness goals?
Check out our podcasts and webinars.
Are you ready to start your unique journey toward achieving all your fitness goals?
