Give your exercise regime a lift

Scotsman Saturday magazine

EDITED BY JESSICA KIDDLE

If I tell you that Russian weightlifters have used kettlebells to hone their physiques for years, would that put you off using them? I hope not because, as the figures of fans such as Kim Cattrall, Penélope Cruz and J-Lo show, working out with these weights (which look like small bowling balls with handles attached) does not promote a masculine shape. In fact, those who master the technique of swinging and lifting them are guaranteed a leaner, more toned physique.

That’s certainly what my month-long training programme with Edinburgh-based personal trainer Brendon Hartt proved. As well as running weekly classes at Craiglockhart Tennis and Sports Centre (0131-650 1001, www.edinburghleisure.co.uk) on Tuesdays and Thursdays Brendon – one of the few qualified kettlebell trainers in Scotland – visits clients at home.

His sessions involve a lot of squats, lunges and lifts which are made all the more difficult by the fact that you’re holding weights in both hands (I lifted around 8kg but the bells range from 5kg to an impressive 90kg). Then there are the swinging moves (back and forth between your legs, straight up in front of you towards the ceiling, or, with a flick of the wrist, over your head towards your shoulder) which are key elements of the kettlebell workout and take a few attempts to get the hang of.

Once you do master the technique, however, you will find that it takes every last bit of muscle power to defy gravity and swing these weighted balls skyward meaning that all your major muscles – including the core ones – are working together for the duration of the session. Because the movements are so dynamic your heart rate is also elevated which means that kettlebells offer the calorie-burning benefits that most weights machines do not offer.

I only had four sessions but, when combined with my other workouts, I noticed a definite difference in my abs, legs and arms, and nobody made any reference to me looking like Geoff Capes.

• A one-hour kettlebell session with Brendon Hartt costs £40 or £30 as part of a block booking of ten sessions. For more information, tel: 07764 950493 or visit www.xplosivefitness.co.uk

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