Getting Started With Kettlebell

Kettlebell Lifting Environments

Where to train with kettlebells — at home, at work, with a trainer, with a partner, or alone — and how to choose the right setup for you.

Kettlebell Lifting Environments

Once you've purchased your kettlebells, the next decision is where you'll train.

A popular benefit of kettlebells is their portability — a handheld gym that travels with you. Indoors, outdoors, traditional gym, or your own backyard.

Where Will You Train?

Kettlebell training is all the rave in outdoor boot camps, fitness classes, and individual sessions. Each person can grab a kettlebell — or one in each hand (the real training maniacs grab two in each hand!) — and head out to the yard, parking lot, or local park or field.

Have handle, will travel. A kettlebell is a handheld gym that makes exercising in a comfortable environment much easier compared with bulky equipment.

You may also prefer a traditional gym. Bodybuilding gyms, CrossFit gyms, powerlifting gyms, hard-core functional training gyms, strongman gyms, athletic gyms, and commercial gyms all make great settings. All you need is the right equipment, the know-how, and the desire — and you can train anywhere.

At Home

Garage, exercise room, or living room — the convenience of training in your own space.

At Work

Under the desk, in the closet, or in the break room — short sessions that fit a busy schedule.

With A Trainer

Guidance, supervision, and expert technique correction from a certified professional.

With A Partner

Mutual accountability and the spark to push each other harder.

Alone

Inner focus and tranquility — no distractions, just you and the bell.

Training At Home

Many busy professionals or heads of households prefer the luxury and convenience of training at home. You can train in a special exercise room, in your garage, or on carpet, wood, or cement.

You only need a space about 10 by 10 feet (3 by 3 m) to get in a full-body kettlebell workout in the comfort of your own home.

The space should be well ventilated and have enough light to see clearly. There should be no obstructions in the training area that can be tripped over or otherwise pose a safety hazard. Common sense should always be in full effect — you may need to move your pet, kids, or valuables out of the training space.

Training At Work

Some dedicated people bring a kettlebell to work and keep it under their desk or in the closet or break room.

If you are a busy professional with a fast-paced life, you probably don't have time to drive back and forth to a gym. If you're working long hours, you may value the benefits of short kettlebell breaks to charge you up, tone your muscles, and burn some calories.

Quick Office Break

Keep it moderate intensity so you don't sweat in your work clothes — a quick recharge between meetings.

Lunch-Break Workout

If you have shower facilities, do an intense 20- to 30-minute workout on your lunch break — and still have time for a shower and bite to eat.

Where there is a will, there is a way. With the portability of kettlebells, there are no excuses or limitations for those who want to train.

Training With A Trainer

While some people are highly motivated self-starters, others prefer the guidance, supervision, and knowledge of a certified kettlebell trainer.

Look for a trainer with a specialized degree or certification in kettlebells. Several national and international kettlebell organizations provide professional certifications. Look for an IKFF-certified kettlebell trainer (CKT) at www.ikff.com. The IKFF holds a high standard for certification, ensuring standards of practice — but it's possible you won't have access to an IKFF-certified trainer and may need to look elsewhere.

How To Choose A Good Kettlebell Trainer

Technical Experience

Kettlebells have technical specificity — only a trainer who has spent time practicing the basic lifts can understand the differences between good and bad form. Demonstration of good form is the first step in teaching kettlebells.

Clear Communication

People learn differently — some visually, some through touch (tactile), some verbally. The trainer's experience is only as helpful as their ability to get you, the student, to understand and replicate the lesson.

People Person

Some prefer a nice-guy atmosphere, others a drill-sergeant style. Either way, what matters is that the trainer is genuinely interested in your progress — and first and foremost in your health and well-being.

Atmosphere

Spartan gym or country-club, indoors or outdoors, music or silence, grunting or stoic — the environment should be conducive to learning, not a distraction. The right one helps you concentrate and focus.

Cost

Anywhere from $25 for a typical trainer to well over $100 an hour for an experienced or highly recognized trainer in cities like New York or Los Angeles. Cost varies by city, experience, and overhead (fancy gym vs. garage vs. YMCA).

No budget for personal training? Look for qualified trainers who offer group or semi-private classes where the cost is shared among several participants.

Training With A Partner

If you have a good friend or someone you like to work out with, kettlebell training is a great way to challenge and push each other to give that extra effort.

If you don't train with a partner, consider doing so. It could be just the spark you need to stay focused and committed. If you tend to skip workouts, once you have a schedule with another person expecting you, it is less likely that you will skip training.

Whomever you select as your training partner, make sure it is someone who is supportive and attentive. Kettlebell lifting is fun, but it is also serious business — you can get hurt if you do not pay close attention to form, load, and environment.

Training Alone

You may prefer the inner focus and tranquility of training alone. Many accomplished kettlebell lifters do most of their training alone — at home, in a gym, or even outside.

The important thing is to have a clear training space that is as free of distractions as possible. Turn off your phone and tablet and concentrate on the work for your kettlebell session. You will get a more productive workout as a result.

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