So… how’s it going with the “new year, new me” resolutions so far? Fitness-wise, we hope you’ve been able to get some exercise in during the first month of 2018. But if you’ve been dragging yourself to the gym and finding yourself half-heartedly doing the same old routines, maybe it’s time to shake up your fitness regimen with something new and exciting.

Enter the kettlebell workout. Kettle-what? Say it with us: Kettle. Bell. It’s those weights you see at the gym or in fitness shops that look like cannonballs and have handles. You’ve probably been ignoring it for a while now, but they could actually be just the workout you’re looking for.

Kettlebell workouts are slowly getting popular in the country, and there are a lot of good reasons why. We spoke with kettlebell sport competitor Nat Cruz, the first Filipina to earn the Master of Sport title, and she gave us the lowdown on why you should be giving this workout a try.

Nat Cruz

1. It’s for anybody who wants to try it.

Whether you’re a beginner, a pro, or somewhere in between, you can definitely handle the kettlebell workout because it can be tailored to any fitness level. “Whether it’s for general physical preparedness, cross training, hard style, or Girevoy style, you can incorporate the basic lifts with the kettlebell, from swing, squats, deadlifts, clean and press, and Turkish get ups,” Nat said. “You can literally do anything and everything with it.”

2. It can give you a good workout in a short amount of time.

“Let’s face it, not everybody has an hour or even more to spare for their workouts. But lack of time is really never an excuse. At least 15 minutes should be enough for those extremely busy days,” Nat said. With kettlebell, a short, high-intensity workout will do because it burns at least 20 calories per minute.

3. It’s a workout you can do anywhere.

Do it at the gym, do it at home, or, better yet, head to the nearest park and do your training there. All you really need is a few meters of space and you’re good to go. As such, you can make your workout more interesting by changing locations every now and then.

4. It can help you be more efficient.

“Apart from training for strength, endurance, and mental toughness, kettlebell training teaches – or maybe forces you – to be more efficient,” Nat said. “You’re training for a 10-minute set – you can’t just rep out your first few minutes and then just quit and drop the bell. It’s about proper breathing, technique work and a cool head for those bad days. Ideally, you would want to maintain your reps per minute (RPM) consistent. I like how Bruce Lee put it: ‘I fear not the man who has practiced 10000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10000 times.’”

5. It’s quite budget friendly.

You may have to shell out a few thousand bucks for kettlebells, but they’re definitely worth the investment. “They’re sturdy, versatile, easy to carry around, and relatively cheap for something that could last a lifetime. You won’t regret investing in them,” Nat reassured.

6. It can make you strong and improve your endurance.

It’s a combination of strength and cardio, all in one go. That means more parts of your body are working hard, plus your metabolism is getting a boost as well. What’s more, you don’t necessarily bulk up; you become lean and powerful.

7. It teaches humility.

“Every kettlebell lifter knows that everyone has to start with the lightest bell. We know that it’s not about how heavy we lift, but how long we can actually last, with of course, proper form,” Nat said.

8. It’s actually fun!

It’s fun on its own, and it’s also an interesting addition to your current program. There are several variations that you can try at your preferred location. Moreover, if you decide to get into it more seriously, there’s a small but solid community you can be a part of. Check out Kettlebellista HQ or Powerhouse Gym, two of the most notable gyms for kettlebell workouts and kettlebell sport training.

Photos courtesy of Powerhouse Gym (https://www.facebook.com/powerhousegymph/) or Kettlebellista (http://kettlebellista.com/) now! Ready to give kettlebell workout a try? Get in touch with these gyms now!