Kettlebell Workout

Give these beginner exercises a try: Box Squats, Good Morning Stretches, and 2-Arm Swings. Start with a 20-pound dumbbell. These exercises will give you a good overall body workout and give you a good feel for what training with kettlebells is all about. Perform these exercises in a circuit of 3 to 4 sets and work out three times per week.

The Box Squat: 10-20 reps. The box squat will help you perfect your squat form, work your legs and hips, plus improve your flexibility. Take a sturdy chair or box; stand about 12 inches in front of it, facing away from it. Your feet should be a shoulder distance apart. Hold the weight in front of you with both hands at about chest level. Remember to keep your weight on your heels and sit back on the box by arching your lower back and pushing your butt back as you descend. Lightly touch your butt to the box and then plant your feet and stand up squeezing your glutes the whole way up or, you can sit lightly on the box and rock back only on your butt then instantly rock forward and stand up. This will also work your mid-section.

The Good Morning Stretch: 5-8 reps. The GM stretch will strengthen your glutes, hamstrings and tone your hips. Bend at your hips, arch your back and stick your butt out. Your knees should be only slightly bent. Hold the weight with both hands hanging down. Lower yourself slowly, pause at the bottom, and then rise up by squeezing your glutes the whole way up. Don't lean back when you are straight up. You should feel a really good stretch in your hamstrings and all the way down the back of your legs.

The 2-Arm Swing: 15-20 reps. Swings work your hips, inner thighs, glutes, shoulders, back, and help flatten your stomach. You also get a great cardio workout. Place a 20-pound dumbbell on the floor between your feet. Your feet should be shoulder width apart and your knees should track them. Squat down and pick up the weight with both hands. You should feel the weight loading your hamstrings. Then stand up explosively and at the top push your hips forward tucking your tail in. At the same time your arms will project the weight up about waist level. Your arms act as chains holding the weight. You do not use your arms or shoulders to lift the weight. The ballistic movement of your legs and hips is what swings the weight up. When you get to the top with your hips forward, immediately squat back down with the weight descending and swinging through your legs and behind your knees. Continuously repeat the move for 10-20 explosive reps.