KETTLEBELLS

Ever since I got into sports and fitness I've been interested in looking at all types of exercise techniques. Along with all the fad diets that are on the market, most of which are quick fixes, there are a lot of trendy or "in" training techniques as well. Don't get me wrong if you need to dance around a pole for or go to a boot camp and have some guy scream at you to get you moving, I'm all for it. Whatever works as long as you're out doing something.
There are a lot of trainers out there who use a variety of methods to help you loose weight or build muscle. I was talking with one of my neighbors last night who's a personal trainer (there's a lot of them here in LA) who trains his clients using only kettlebells. I've seen these in my own gym but not too many people use them or probably know how to. Though it looks pretty easy it definitely takes some training.
A kettlebell is a cast iron weight which looks like a cannonball with a handle. It's an ancient Russian exercise tool that dates back to 1704. They're measured in 'poods'. A pood is an old Russian weight measure which equals 16kg or 35 lbs approx. Kettlebell training provides a great total body workout that improves strength as well as flexibility. It's a proven technique that's stood the test of time, not bad for a cannonball with a handle.