Kettlebell Classes

Kettlebells provide an amazing full body workout. I started going to kettlebell classes at Evolution Fitness a year ago, I generally go twice a week but sometimes manage a third class! The classes benefit every individual at any fitness level, I used to go alone but for the last few months my mam has been coming with me and she loves it! We used to be keen swimmers when I was younger but she hadn't done much in the way of fitness for a while, she had been suffering with a sore arm for quite a while so started kettlebells with a 3kg weight to ease herself into it and try and loosen her arm up. A few months later she is up to a 6kg kettlebell and her planks have always been better than mine!! (...and she is in her 60's!)

The  main exercises that we do in class are:

• Deadlift (variations: one leg deadlift, straight leg deadlift)
• Windmill
• Figure of 8
• Clean and Press
• Two Arm Swing (variations: Alternate Swing)
• Jackknife

The two exercises that I find most difficult are:

Halo
Stand feet shoulder width apart. Lock your core and hold the kettlebell upside down. Keep your eyes straight ahead and twist the weight right around your head. If it burns go faster! 30 seconds then change ways. KEEP EYES STRAIGHT AHEAD AND FOCUS SO YOU DON'T HIT YOURSELF!

Backdrop
You can keep your feet shoulder width apart or, if this exercise causes you to bend your back you can place one foot behind you and lean forwards. Hold the kettlebell upside down and lock your core. Raise the kettlebell above your head and push it down behind your head as far as you can go, lift the weight back up above your head and repeat for 1 minute.

I think I find these exercises difficult because it involves keeping the weight above my head, during a normal day to day I don't use these muscles or hold weights above my head!


We also do ab and leg exercises without weights:

• Ab Crunch (you can use a weight with this one but it is more of a work out not to!)
• Bicycles

I have been doing Planks for the last year during classes and I still find them difficult! Some times I can hold the position for a full minute and some times I can't!

Plank (variations: side plank, shoulder tap plank, spider plank, rotating plank)

Shoulder Tap Planks are the easiest ones for me, get into the Plank position but on your hands instead of elbows. Continuously tap your opposite shoulder with your hand throughout the exercise. 

If you are looking to try a new class or would like to intensify your workout regime then I can't recommend kettlebells enough. I would suggest going to a class because you can injure yourself by carrying out an exercise incorrectly. 

*Please do not try these exercises at home without guidance from a professional instructor. 

It's been a while...

I originally started this blog to write about my interest in beauty, I haven't posted in a while because I became so busy that this fell on the wayside. I really want to get back into the swing of writing again and jot down my thoughts and ideas about what I am doing at the minute. In the last year I have started to really focus on my fitness and living a more healthy lifestyle, I have also started my nursing degree. Doing all of these things has made me realise how fitness, health and wellbeing go hand in hand.

I still love fashion and beauty but I want to expand my blog to talk about different things and other interests. I don't want to throw healthy living and wellbeing in your faces though! I try my best to eat clean but it very rarely happens to be honest...so don't worry I won't be posting pictures of my meals every other day!!