Muscle Memory digital Apr/May 2018 | Page 110

BELL TO MANY WOMEN, THE SIGHT OF KETTLEBELLS IS DISCOURAGING. THEY’RE UGLY AND HEAVY. They look cold and steely, like some archaic leftover mili- tary equipment from World War II. They look like a seri- ous, painful challenge to lift. But this is 2018, and that’s exactly what modern women love about them. Kettlebells are indeed heavy, and depending on the angle and movement, they can in fact be quite awkward to lift. Therein lies the chal- lenge. Kettlebells are an in- triguing departure from the same ol’ traditional equip- ment of barbells and dumb- bells that populate big box gyms, and can therefore add a whole lot of spice to your same ol’ workout. And girl, when it comes to versatility, kettlebells can work your whole body. You can use them with one arm or both; you can use them for isolation moves or multi-joint full-body exercises; you can use them for functional fitness movements; they come in a full range of weights; and the fact they have an awkward handle accentuates the effort required in complet- ing a balanced rep. Today’s woman never backs down from a challenge, and nor should you. The next time you want an intense, challenging non-traditional workout, follow the game plan outlined here by Jen Jewell. For the calorie burn and muscle tone that kettlebells can provide, you may just find yourself falling in love with them! MUSCLEMEMORYMAG.COM 33