This simple object, simply a cast iron bell with a handle attached, has sculpted bodies for centuries. It has shaped Hollywood honeys and Olympic athletes, as well as Russian strongmen and Special Forces.

If it’s good enough for them, surely it’s good enough for you?

If you think you can’t possibly use something that is for such elite athletes, then you are in for a surprise, as you can use the kettlebell for fantastic results, even if you are a complete beginner to fitness.

So regardless of who you are, there are many reasons why a kettlebell is well worth adding to your workout arsenal:

The unique way you hold a kettlebell compared to a dumbbell means you challenge your core and stabilising muscles a lot more – so you get strong from the inside out. The kettlebell achieves this as it has an offset centre of gravity. You will become truly strong and balanced, not bulky, and reduce your risk of injury.

The ‘classic’ kettlebell exercises are dynamic and have a cardio effect – in fact, with a kettlebell in your possession, you will never need to use another piece of cardio equipment again!

Any dumbbell exercise you can do with a kettlebell – some exercises that feel awkward with a dumbbell feel much more comfortable with a kettlebell (so you can perform them more effectively) and others are more challenging with a kettlebell (so you get much better results).

There are so many exercises and methods of training available that you can’t possibly get bored – this means motivation to exercise is no longer an issue. The workouts are fun and varied, so you will be looking forward to your next workout, not dreading it.

You can exercise at home – you only need one kettlebell to get started and although you will probably want a collection you can adapt exercises to make them harder without having to increase the size of the kettlebell.

This means you no longer have to pay gym membership or waste time driving to the gym, or waiting in the gym for equipment to become available.

The dynamic kettlebell exercises are perfect for tightening the classic trouble spot – your butt! The exercises, such as the swing and snatch, require explosive power in the hips and therefore emphasise all the neglected muscles of the back of your body, shaping things up that you thought were beyond repair. Even cellulite will be reduced.

You will get flexibility, balance, strength, endurance and co-ordination, as well as a hot body!

What’s So Good About Kettlebells, Anyway?

This is what I asked myself for quite a long time before I ‘saw the light’! I was based in a gym and saw one of the other trainers using kettlebells with his clients and to be perfectly honest I thought it was all a bit of hype. The exercises looked dangerous and the clients were all getting bruised! I was sceptical at best…

Even when I finally got him to give me a ‘taster’ session I wasn’t completely convinced, I had a decent enough workout but just didn’t get what the big deal was.

I can’t even remember what sparked the mental shift from cynic to evangelist. One minute I’m happy with my dumbbells, the next I’m raving to all who would listen about a shiny round chunk of iron!

I bought a few DVDs and a couple of kettlebells and the addiction came pretty quick – the sheer versatility of the kettlebell intrigued me. I always thought ‘anything you can do with a kettlebell you can do with a dumbbell’ but how wrong I was!

The shape of the kettlebell and the way the weight is held means that performing what would be a simple dumbbell exercise becomes a whole new experience as there is an additional stability factor to consider.

The fact that the bell is designed to be swung is what really makes it stand out from the crowd, though. As soon as you add in the classic kettlebell exercises, like the swing and the snatch, the power of the kettlebell to transform your body and workouts becomes clear. You can get a killer cardio workout, while loading all your ‘behind’ muscles (back, butt, hamstrings…) that are usually underworked in most people. The era of the cross trainer was clearly over – cardio was just never going to be the same again…

Any exercise you can do with a dumbbell you can do with a kettlebell, sometimes feeling more comfortable and sometimes being a lot harder. You can use your kettlebell as a piece of cardio equipment or as an extreme strength tool. You can use a kettlebell to increase mobility and stability and even rehabilitate.

And they look so good, all in a line in the garage, smugly reminding you that you never need to pay gym membership again!