Kettle bells are a fairly new craze in the fitness industry but the concept of what they can do for your body is nothing new. They are one of many tools in your fitness toolbox that can be used for cardiovascular fitness and strength training.
The equipment is similar to what hand weights and bar bells can do for you except they are round in shape. In fact, they can come in different shapes and sizes depending on what you want to do with them! Some have a shape similar to a bowling ball with a handle at the top. Others are made of flexible rubber and are light weight. Most are made of solid iron or steel and depending on the weight of the kettle bell, the cost can get as big.
There is still the unfortunate fact that kettle bells have a limited range of motion. Unlike hand held weights, it is much harder to balance the kettle bell in one hand unless the handle is smooth, wide, and very giving. It would be very painful to drop solid iron on your toes or legs if your grip slips, which is possible no matter what object you use to train with for strength.
If you're a beginner, I suggest using resistance bands to start out with. While the actual weight of the resistance is smaller than a kettle bell, these are safer choices until coordination and muscular strength is built. Then once you outgrow resistance bands, move on to a kettle bell or heavier hand held weights to increase resistance and strength training.
People swear by the kettle bell's effectiveness in toning core muscles, especially for those using cross fit or interval training. Overall, kettle bells make a good addition to a seasoned fitness lover's routine. There are many exercises that can be used with kettle bells so research on your own your favorite exercises and videos.
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