Cardio Kettling

So, I was set the challenge to do something a lil’ bit different to my normal run / bootcamp routine and this came in the shape of Cardio Kettlebells, a new class at Frame Studios. I worried about resembling a shot-putter (Kelly Sotherton; is the aim not ur standard shotputters) but Frame put my fears aside – the class is a low weight, high repetition session that gets your heart rate high, so no bulk just toned muscles.

Kelly's Guns...if only!

I entered the rather fabulous exposed-brick, über trendy and so very Shoreditch, studios with my fellow Cardio Kettlebellers. We each grabbed a cute pink, baby blue or black kettlebell, depending on how brave we were feeling. Then Clare B, our instructor, walked in and turned the tunes up loud – think a night out in your fav Soho bar, Kylie, Scissor Sisters, Mika – and we cracked on with the class!

It felt like a modern update on the much loved Body Pump class, but the way you move with a kettlebell worked my core and hamstrings a lot more. There was a set for the arms which involved lifts plus a rework of the push up (ouch!). On the legs set we mainly did squats and lunges with twists which worked the back too. Abs rounded off the class, with waist-defining-twists and sit ups. The much needed cool down and stretching completed the class, and with Clare B egging us on the whole time, it meant the class flew by!

24 hours later my abs were utterly cursing the day I picked up the cute pink kettlebell. The class was so deceptive, because of the low weights you end up doing more reps than you ordinarily would. It wasn’t until each set had finished that I realised I was breathless (I blame the great soundtrack) and it wasn’t until the next day that I’d realised how hard I’d been pushed! It was so motivating to do something different and in my view the change was as good as a rest – especially if it is in the shape of a cute pink kettlebell!