Holly, a dedicated runner, decided to take her fitness journey to the next level by joining Seacoast Kettlebell. Her primary goal was to incorporate focused strength training into her routine, which she believed would not only enhance her running performance but also help prevent injuries that often come with the demands of long-distance running.
Since joining Seacoast Kettlebell, Holly has not only achieved new strength but has also built a supportive community of like-minded individuals who share her passion for fitness. The friendships she has formed have made workouts more enjoyable and motivating.
Today, Holly is stronger than ever, embracing her newfound strength with enthusiasm. She feels invigorated and empowered, ready to take on new challenges and push her limits further. The combination of running and strength training has transformed her physically and mentally, leading to a more balanced and fulfilling fitness journey.
Check out her story and see how she has turned her passion for running into a holistic approach to health and fitness!
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Before becoming a member of Seacoast Kettlebell, Karen struggled to maintain a consistent workout routine and often felt unmotivated. Since joining, she has embraced the group atmosphere and has found some new friendships. Karen has not only gained strength, but has also successfully lowered her cholesterol, lost weight, and feels fantastic!
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The Five Best Kettlebell Exercises for People Over 40
As we age, it becomes increasingly important to maintain our strength, power, flexibility, and overall fitness. Kettlebell exercises are an excellent way to achieve these goals, as they engage multiple muscle groups and promote functional movement patterns. Our top five favorite exercises for people over 40 are the Goblet Squat, Swings, Turkish Get Ups, One Arm Rows and Deadlifts. Keep reading to
learn about the benefits of these movements and how they can contribute to a healthy and active lifestyle.
1. Goblet Squats:
Description: Goblet squats are a compound exercise that targets the lower body, including the quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, and core muscles.
Benefits:
– Builds lower body strength and stability.
– Enhances mobility and flexibility in the hips, knees, and ankles.
– Improves core strength and posture.
2. Kettlebell Swings:
Description: Kettlebell swings involve a dynamic hip-hinging motion that engages the entire posterior chain, including the glutes, hamstrings, and back muscles.
Benefits:
– Increases explosive power and overall strength.
– Enhances cardiovascular fitness.
3. Turkish Get-Ups:
Description: Turkish get-ups are a full-body exercise that involves transitioning from lying down to standing while holding a kettlebell overhead.
Benefits:
– Develops core stability and balance.
– Increases shoulder and hip mobility.
– Enhances functional strength for daily activities.
4. One Arm Rows:
Description: One arm rows are a challenging exercise that targets the back and biceps.
Benefits:
– Improves upper body strength and stability.
– Enhances posture and shoulder mobility.
5. Kettlebell Deadlifts:
Description: Kettlebell deadlifts are a variation of the traditional deadlift exercise that targets the posterior chain, including the glutes, hamstrings, and lower back.
Benefits:
– Builds lower body strength and power.
– Improves hip and spinal stability.
– Enhances overall functional fitness.
Conclusion:
Incorporating kettlebell exercises into your fitness routine can be highly beneficial, particularly for individuals over 40. The five exercises mentioned above target multiple muscle groups, enhance strength, power, stability, and flexibility, and contribute to an active and healthy lifestyle. Remember to start with lighter weights and gradually increase the intensity as you become more comfortable and confident. Always consult with a fitness professional before starting any new exercise program to ensure proper form and technique. Stay active, stay strong, and enjoy the benefits of kettlebell training!
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Sam had tried other gyms in the past and barre, but didn’t get the results she was looking for. Since joining Seacoast Kettlebell, she has gained muscle, strength and feels confident! Check out her story!
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The kettlebell snatch is an awesome, full body exercise that offers benefits to strength, power and conditioning. Some kettlebell experts believe the snatch is the king of kettlebell exercises and unlike the barbell Olympic squat style snatch you are far less likely to injury yourself. Read on to explore the advantages of the kettlebell snatch, the muscle groups involved, how to perform the exercise correctly, and a sample workout to incorporate it into your fitness routine.
Top Four Benefits of the Kettlebell Snatch:
1. Full-Body Workout:
The kettlebell snatch engages multiple muscle groups simultaneously, making it an excellent exercise for athleticism, overall strength and conditioning. It targets the shoulders, back, hips, glutes, hamstrings, and core, providing a comprehensive full-body workout.
2. Increased Power and Explosiveness:
The explosive nature of the kettlebell snatch helps improve power and explosiveness. As you generate force from the hips and transfer it through your body to propel the kettlebell overhead, you develop strength and speed, which can be beneficial in various sports and activities.
3. Improved Cardiovascular Fitness:
Performing the kettlebell snatch at a high intensity can elevate your heart rate and challenge your cardiovascular system. This exercise can be a time-efficient way to improve cardiovascular fitness while also building strength and endurance.
4. Enhanced Grip Strength:
The kettlebell snatch requires a strong grip to control and stabilize the kettlebell throughout the movement. Regular practice of this exercise can help develop grip strength, which is essential for many daily activities and sports.
Muscle Groups Involved:
The kettlebell snatch primarily targets the following muscle groups:
1. Shoulders: The deltoids and rotator cuff muscles are heavily engaged during the upward phase of the snatch when you raise the kettlebell overhead.
2. Back: The snatch recruits the muscles of the upper and lower back, including the latissimus dorsi, rhomboids, and erector spinae, to maintain a stable and upright posture throughout the movement.
3. Hips and Glutes: The hip extension is a key component of the kettlebell snatch. The gluteus maximus and hamstrings are responsible for generating power and driving the kettlebell upward.
4. Core: To perform the snatch efficiently, you need to engage your core muscles, including the rectus abdominis, obliques, and transverse abdominis, to maintain stability and prevent excessive movement of the spine.
How to Perform the Kettlebell Snatch:
1. Start with the kettlebell approximately 12 inches in front of you with your feet in a hip-width stance.
2. Hinge at the hips and grab the kettlebell handle with one hand, keeping your back flat and core engaged.
3. Hike the kettlebell back between your legs like a football.
4. Drive through your heels and extend your hips explosively, swinging the kettlebell upward. Guide the kettlebell up close to your body.
4. As the kettlebell reaches shoulder level, retract your arm slightly, pulling your elbow back and then punch your hand through the handle.
5. Lock out your arm and stabilize the kettlebell overhead.
6. We recommend beginners lower the kettlebell to their shoulder and then and then guiding it down and back towards their hips into a powerful back swing.
7. Repeat for the desired number of reps!
Sample Workout:
Here is a sample workout involving the kettlebell snatch:
1. Warm-up: Perform some dynamic stretches and mobility exercises for the shoulders, hips, and core.
2. Circuit: Perform 3-4 rounds of the following exercises with minimal rest between each exercise and a short rest between rounds:
– Kettlebell Snatch: 10-12 reps per arm
– Goblet Squat: 10-12 reps
– Push Up: 10-12 reps
3. Finisher: Complete a Tabata-style finisher by performing kettlebell snatches for 20 seconds, followed by 10 seconds of rest, repeated for a total of 4 minutes.
Remember to start with a weight that allows you to perform the exercise with proper form and gradually increase the intensity as you become more proficient. It is also crucial to consult with a qualified fitness professional before starting any new exercise program, especially if you have any underlying health concerns or injuries.
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Our Six Favorite Swing Variations for Lower Body Strength and Power!
By Colin McGarty
Kettlebell swings are one of our favorite lower body exercises! They work the glutes, hips, hamstrings, core, lower back and grip like crazy. Not to mention other muscles too. It basically is a full body exercise. Kettlebell swings are accessible to people of all ability levels so long as they are performed correctly.
Kettlebell swings can be used to build strength and power with heavy weights and lower reps. In fact, for many people the swing is one of the best power exercises out there because it is low impact. Most plyometric movements are high impact and not always appropriate for everyone.
Or you can lighten the load, up the repetitions, or chop the rest periods to build killer cardiovascular conditioning. Some of the hardest HIIT and Endurance workouts we do involve a big dosage of kettlebell swings. So, if you want to be stronger, more powerful and fitter definitely incorporate kettlebell swings into your workout!
For all swing variations use the following steps to ensure your form is dialed in:
Start with the kettlebell approximately 12 inches in front of you
Push your but back and squat slightly until you can grab the handle(s). Tilt them towards yourself and flex your lats. Your back should be flat!
Take a breathe and hike the kettlebell back.
Stand up explosively. Exhaling on top.
Arms remain straight or slightly bent as the kettlebell floats.
Push your hips back return to the kettlebell to that hike position with a flat back and your forearms close to your groin.
Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Safely park the kettlebell back to the start position.
Sometimes doing the same old swing can be boring. So, we have given you our six favorite kettlebell swing variations to spice things up:
Russian Swings
One Arm Swings
Hand to Hand Swings
American Swings
Double Swings
Suitcase Swings
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Kettlebell Sport is a power endurance competition that involves lifting sub maximal weights for a given amount of time. Competitors compete in five minute, ten minute and even longer 30 or 60 minute sets. Kettlebell Sport is also known as Girevoy Sport(GS) and originated in eastern Europe. As the popularity of kettlebells has increased globally, competitions have gained traction around the United States.
Kettlebell Sport lifters develop incredible strength, endurance, conditioning, and impeccable technique on their lift. Not only that but completing these long sets without placing the kettlebell down is a challenge and forges mental toughness and grit.
The standard events are Snatch, Long Cycle Clean and Jerk, Jerk only and Biathlon which is a set of Jerks followed by a set of Snatches. Long Cycle and Jerk can only be performed with double or single kettlebells. Males typically perform double kettlebells while woman can choose double or single. Snatches are performed with a single kettlebell. Woman can use the 8kg, 12kg, 15kg, 20kg, or 24kg kettlebells. Men perform their sets with 16kg, 20kg, 24kg, 28kg or 32kg kettlebells.
There are multiple weight classes in each event and for each kettlebell size. So, competitors compete against other lifters in the same event and same weight class as themselves. The competitor with the most repetitions in the given amount of time wins the event. On single kettlebell events one hand switch is allowed. With the double kettlebell the competitor lifts for the whole event without putting the kettlebells down.
Snatches
Long Cycle Clean and Jerk
Jerk
If you are interested in learning kettlebell sport join the Seacoast Kettlebell Team! Our next competition is on May 18th!
So, you’re walking down the sports equipment aisle of your local Walmart or Target (or your favorite sports retail store), and you stumble upon these funny-looking weights with a handle on top.
You may be wondering, “What are these strange weights?” and, “How are they different from traditional dumbbells?”
They’re called kettlebells, and while you can use them for many of the same exercises as dumbbells, the way they impact our bodies is slightly different.
Whether this is your very first encounter with a kettlebell, or you’re curious about the benefits they offer (and what the heck you’re supposed to do with them?), you’re in the right place! At Seacoast Kettlebell, we love everything about kettlebells — especially introducing these unique weights (and their incredible benefits!) to newbies like you.
Ready to give kettlebell training a try? Here’s everything you need to know to get started.
Kettlebells vs. Dumbbells – What’s the Difference?
The first thing you may notice about kettlebells is their unique shape and design compared to traditional dumbbells, which feature round rubber weights in the shape of a hexagon on each side of a cylindrical bar. Kettlebells are designed this way for a reason. While dumbbells distribute the weight evenly on each side of a bar, a kettlebell’s weight sits primarily in the centralized, round-shaped part, with a handle on top.
Kettlebell exercises are typically compound movements that train multiple muscle groups simultaneously, vs. dumbbell exercises, which are typically used to target a specific muscle group. Therefore, when talking about kettlebell exercises, we categorize them according to the movement patterns they involve rather than by individual muscle groups. The five basic movement patterns are hinging, squatting, pushing, pulling, and core.
Why Use Kettlebells?
There are many great reasons to exercise with kettlebells over traditional dumbbells; here are a few of the top benefits:
The weight distribution is offset approximately six to eight inches from the handle, forcing you to work harder to control the weight throughout the movement. As a result, you’ll burn a TON of extra calories and gain core strength.
Many kettlebell exercises are compound exercises, which involve movement in two or more joints and engage multiple muscle groups at once. This forces you to work multiple areas of your body with each move.
There are a variety of moves to choose from, depending on your skill level and goals, so you can change up your workouts regularly to avoid boredom and engage different muscles regularly.
Many moves are skill-based, which require practice and repetition, inspiring you to keep doing the moves until you get them just right.
It’s fun to mix and match moves to create a full-body workout you can do (almost) anywhere.
Your 4-Week Beginner Kettlebell Workout
If you’re looking to create a solid kettlebell workout that won’t feel impossible but will push your limits, we’ve put together some of the simpler kettlebell moves to create the ultimate kettlebell workout for beginners.
Some exercises may be more complex and therefore may require more practice than others. We recommend starting with a lighter weight while you’re learning a new movement. When a move is more complex or challenging, you may want to try doing it without any weight until you achieve proper form to avoid injuring yourself.
Ready to dive in? Let’s learn the moves.
Step 1: Learn the Moves
Our kettlebell beginner workout is split into two full-body workouts, alternating between “Workout A” and “Workout B” for a total of three workouts each week for four weeks.
The Workouts
Workout A
Dead Cleans (each side)
Goblet Squats (total)
Push Press (each side)
One Arm Rows (each side)
Kettlebell Plank Drag (each side)
Workout B
Russian Swings (total)
Goblet Split Squats (each side)
Pushups (total)
Crush Curls (total)
Pullover Sit-Ups (total)
How to Do Each Move
Here’s how to do each move listed in “Workout A” and “Workout B” above. Read and watch below, and then give it a shot. These are some of the most basic moves, so we’re confident you’ll get the hang of them in no time.
Dead Cleans
Stand over a kettlebell with your feet shoulder-width apart, with the kettlebell between your heels.
Grab the handle with one hand and clean it to the rack position.
Place the kettlebell back between your heels and repeat with the other hand.
Goblet Squats
Clean a kettlebell and hold it close to your sternum with both hands. You can hold it upside down or by the horns of the kettlebell, depending on which grip feels more comfortable.
Pull yourself into a deep squat while maintaining an upright torso. Your elbows may touch the inside of your thighs.
Drive through your heels, and exhale as you stand up.
Strict Press
Clean a kettlebell and hold it in the rack position.
Crush the handle, brace your core and legs and then press the kettlebell overhead.
Lockout with your bicep close to your ear.
Actively pull the kettlebell back down to the rack position.
Switch arms and repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
One Arm Rows
Split your stance and drop one elbow to your knee.
Level off your shoulders and pull them down and away from your ears.
Grab the kettlebell by the handle and pull it up and back to your rib cage.
Pause for a moment and reverse the movement.
Switch sides and repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Kettlebell Plank Drag
Get into a pushup position with a kettlebell next to the outside of your right hand.
Brace your abs, glutes, and quads hard.
Grab the kettlebell with your left hand and drag it underneath your body to the outside of your other hand. Try not to move your hips, shoulders, and back as you drag the kettlebell.
Repeat with your other hand.
Russian Swings
Stand with the kettlebell 12 – 18 inches in front of you and your feet shoulder-width apart.
Grab the kettlebell handle with both hands; tilt it, flex your lats and flatten your back.
Explosively hike the kettlebell back between your legs and then stand up tall.
Pull the kettlebell back between your legs, repeating for the desired number of repetitions.
Keep your arms straight or slightly bent as you perform the exercise.
Goblet Split Squats
Start in a half-kneeling position, with your shin vertical and back knee under your hips.
Hold the kettlebell close to your sternum with both hands. You can hold it upside down or by the horns of the kettlebell.
Drive through your heel and stand up, then lower until your back knee lightly touches the ground.
Switch sides and repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Pushups (No bells required; just use your body weight for this one!)
Get down on all fours, with your hands slightly more than shoulder-width apart.
Keep your arms and legs straight, and keep your back straight.
Lower your chest so it almost touches the floor.
Pause and push yourself back up.
Crush Curls
Grab a kettlebell by the body and squeeze it hard.
Slowly curl the kettlebell up, bending at the elbows and squeezing your biceps.
Reverse and repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Pull-over Sit-Ups
Lay face-up on the floor, keeping your knees bent.
Place a kettlebell behind your head, within easy grabbing distance.
Grab the kettlebell by the horns and lift it over your head, loading the weight onto your chest.
Keep the kettlebell against your chest and use your abs to raise your torso off the ground.
Slowly lower your torso and lift the kettlebell back behind your head.
Step 2: Get Warm
It’s so important to warm up properly before doing any type of exercise–especially one that uses multiple muscle groups. When you warm up your body, it helps to lubricate your joints, which makes moving your muscles easier and ultimately helps prevent injury.
Unfortunately, many people opt to skip the warmup for one reason or another, but we strongly advise against it!
Before you start swinging kettlebells around, you’ll want to get your body warm and flexible so it’s easier to do the moves – and so you don’t pull a muscle in your first set of reps! Here’s our recommended warm-up routine for the beginner kettlebell workout.
Basic Kettlebell Warm-up Routine
Start with Low-impact Cardio
We suggest starting your warmup with five or ten minutes of easy, steady-state cardio, such as walking, running, or biking. This will bring your body temperature up a bit, so it’s ready for some dynamic stretching.
Dynamic Stretches
You’ll use a lot of different muscles and joints during kettlebell workouts, so it’s best to ensure your body is ready to move accordingly. Complete the following stretching exercises before you jump into the workout:
Arm Circle
Stand with your feet slightly less than shoulder-width apart. Take both arms and swing them in a big, circular motion. Do ten forward circles and ten back circles.
Arm Swings
Stand with your feet less than shoulder-width apart and swing your arms up to the sky. Hinge at the hips and swing your arms down toward the ground. Repeat ten times.
Torso Rotations
Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart and twist your torso left and right, swinging your arms loosely from side to side. Repeat ten times on each side.
Hip Circles
Place your hands on your hips and rotate your hips in a wide, circular motion. Make ten circles in each direction.
Prayer Squats
Stand with your feet a little wider than your hips. Squat down, keeping your knees wide and your chest up. Push your hands together to stretch your forearms and wrist simultaneously. Repeat slowly ten times.
Inchworm to a Push Up
Stand up tall. Then lower your body and place your hands on the ground, with your legs straight. Walk your hands out into a plank position and perform a pushup. Keep your core tight and be careful not to let your hips sag. Drop to your knees for the pushup if needed. Push yourself back up into a plank position and walk your feet back to your hands. Repeat ten times.
Spiderman Stretch
Get down in plank position. Step your right foot forward and place it on the outside of your right hand. Keeping your foot planted, push your front knee outward to stretch out your hip. Sink your hips a little lower and twist your body to the left, reaching your left arm up to the sky while keeping your feet on the ground. Alternate legs for a total of ten on each side.
Low Back Twist
Lie on your back and pull your knees into your chest. Stretch your arms out wide on each side, and roll your knees to one side, keeping your shoulder blades touching the floor. Do ten twists per side.
Step 3: Get Moving
Now that your muscles are warm — and hopefully you’re sweating a little? — it’s time to start your workout. Remember to start with a light to moderate weight for each exercise, which will allow you to perform multiple repetitions of each exercise in the workout.
Workout Structure
Perform three workouts each week.
Alternate between “Workout A” and “Workout B”.
Include at least one day of rest between each workout.
Perform the suggested number of repetitions (reps) for each exercise, on each side (where applicable) weekly, as follows:
Week 1: 8 reps
Week 2: ten reps
Week 3: 12 reps
Week 4: 15 reps
Rest for between 30 seconds and two minutes between each move.
Week 1 Example:
Monday: Workout A (8 reps)
Tuesday: REST DAY
Wednesday: Workout B (8 reps)
Thursday: REST DAY
Friday: Workout A (8 reps)
Saturday: REST DAY
Step 4: Stretch it Out
Now that the warmup and workout are complete, it may be tempting to call it a day. But there’s one more step you shouldn’t skip — the final stretch and cool down. Take a few minutes to stretch out the areas of your body you used in the workout, so they aren’t stiff the next time you go to use them.
Simple Stretch and Cooldown Routine
Here are some simple stretches you can do to end your workout:
Low Back Twist
This move is excellent for stretching out your lower back and slowing your heart rate down in the process. It’s a versatile move that you can do in both the warmup and cooldown.
Lie on your back and pull your knees into your chest.
Stretch your arms out wide on each side, and roll your knees to one side, keeping your shoulder blades touching the floor.
Rotate back and forth for 30 seconds to one minute.
Knee-to-chest
This move is great for removing tension in your hips, glutes, and thighs.
Lie on your back with your left knee bent, and your right leg extended.
Grab your right knee and pull it into your chest, and hold it for 30 seconds.
Repeat with your other leg.
Seated Spinal Twist
This move helps to open your hips and stretch your glutes and back. It’s also great for your abdominals, shoulders, and neck.
Sit with both legs extended frontward.
Take your left knee and place it over your right thigh.
Grab the outside of your left thigh with your right arm and twist to the left, sitting up straight.
Hold for 30 seconds to one minute.
Release your left leg and repeat with your right leg.
Cat-cow
This move looks a little funny but is great for stretching your shoulders, neck, and chest and releasing tension in your spine.
Get down onto all fours in what is referred to as “tabletop position”, with your hands and knees planted on the ground and your back flat.
Inhale, pushing your belly downward and lifting your chin and chest, looking upward. Let your shoulders fall away from your ears.
Exhale, tucking your chin into your chest and arching your spine toward the sky.
Repeat for 30-60 seconds.
Child’s Pose
This is a popular yoga pose, but it feels amazing and is great for stretching your glutes, things, and spine.
Get into tabletop position (described above) and push your heels together, pushing your knees out wide.
Fold forward, stretching your arms out in front of you and resting your head between your knees. Hold for ten seconds.
Walk your hands to the right and hold for ten seconds.
Walk your hands to the left and hold for ten seconds.
Walk your hands back to the middle and hold for 30 seconds to one minute.
Time to Get Started
Now that you know how to do each move, all that’s left for you to do now is grab a (light) kettlebell and give kettlebell training a try. Remember to focus on form first. There’s no need to rush through the moves, especially when you are first learning them. That’s how injuries happen.
By the end of the four weeks, you’ll be ready for an intermediate kettlebell workout. But let’s get these moves down first, deal?
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