Benefits of Kettlebell Pilates

The swinging motion of kettlebell exercises provides some cardio benefits while allowing you to target muscle groups rather than the single muscles of traditional weight-lifting.

  1. History

    • Kettlebells originated in Russia and were called girya. The first mention of them was made in a 1704 dictionary. They made their way through Europe and the U.S. with the help of well-known weightlifters such as Yuri Vlasov.

    Types

    • Kettlebells are cannonball or bowling ball-shaped weights with a handle on top. They come in several weights.

    Benefits

    • Working with kettlebells increases flexibility, helps you lose weight, allows you to target several muscle groups at once and increases strength at a faster rate than weightlifting alone.

    Features

    • Kettlebells come sized in Russian measurements called poods. One pood is roughly 35 lbs. You can get 53 lbs., 70 lbs. and 88 lbs. kettlebells. There are also kettlebells made for women that start at 18 lbs.

    Warning

    • As with any exercise program, talk with your doctor before beginning.