(Note to my clients): In case you haven’t noticed, I am absolutely in love with kettlebells!

Kettlebells originated in Russia and have only fairly recently made it to the “West”. The thing that makes kettlebell workouts different from any other form of resistance training is the ballistic movements, especially in the swing and the snatch. These two movements alone can pack a cardio-punch like you may never have experienced! They also blow-torch unwanted fat!

Training with kettlebells is the fastest way to burn fat, gain real strength and work on your cardio fitness all at the same time. Now that makes kettlebell workouts incredibly time-efficient. I don’t know about you, but that is a huge PLUS in my books! And YES they are suitable for young and ‘more mature’ alike.

For women, an 8K kettlebell (or 18lbs) is the best to start with. You only need one because you can do so much with it.

The best book/DVD on the subject for women is Parvel’s From Russia With Tough Love – Pavel’s Kettlebell Workout for a Femme Fatale – a must for anyone who is serious about proper form and technique.