What You Should Know Before Trying Kettlebells

Everyone these days seems to be incorporating kettlebells into her workouts. Vanessa Hudgens uses them to stay strong, and Penelope Cruz, Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey have also worked out with them. While most everyone can do a kettlebell workout, there's a few things that every kettlebell beginner should know before trying this new hot trend.

1. Form is king. Before trying any kettlebell workout, it's important to know and understand proper form. Take a kettlebell class with an experienced and certified instructor and ask for one-on-one help. A kettlebell workout is very challenging and can be fantastic for building strength, but if you're not doing the moves properly, you can be injured or not see results.

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2. It's all about momentum. Kettlebell workouts are all about explosive, powerful movements. Unlike lifting weights where you slowly lift a weight, when working out with kettlebells, it's all about using the momentum of the movement to lift the kettlebell. This combination of strength and movement gives you both a weight-lifting and cardio workout in one!

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3. Go heavy or go home. Heavy kettlebells are the name of the game when it comes to kettlebell workouts. Because you're using momentum, you can lift a much heavier weight than you're used to, so don't be afraid — after you have your form down, of course— to pick up the heavier kettlebell.