Lauren Brooks Fitness

By Lauren Brooks You’ve trained hard. You’ve completed the grueling three-day weekend of the  RKC /SFG or the full day of the  HKC  or Strong First User Course. Congratulations, you are now officially certified! You have proved that you can execute the basic kettlebell exercises with safe and correct form. You have proved that you understand the concepts and can relay them to a novice. You have proved that you are tough and can withstand challenges. You have developed the strength and conditioning needed to pass the certification process. These are all wonderful qualities, but now it’s time to work on the most important part, putting it all together. Actually designing a safe, balanced, and efficient program for your individual clients and group classes. Now that you know how to do these exercises and you can do them well, you are probably anxious to teach (if you aren’t already doing so). Students will come to you because kettlebells are the new, coo...

Kettlebells for Women: Strong is the New Sexy That’s right everyone! If you’re not “in-the-know,” strong is now considered super sexy! Women with lean muscles (that are actually useful) are finally considered beautiful. Since strong is the new sexy, I’m proud to say that I probably have one of the sexiest group classes in the world. The women that walk into my classes end up being the strongest they have ever been and it only gets better. Over the last few years, we have taken kettlebell training to the next level. After I published my first article, “ The Need to Train Like a Man, Especially If You’re a Woman ” back in 2005 (refer to this article if you are interested more in the science behind this concept), my female clients were no longer as fearful of lifting heavy objects. Ladies are starting to realize more and more that as they became stronger, the feelings they experience are empowering: increased self-confidence, better posture, and most...

3 Strength & Conditioning Workouts for Kettlebells by Lauren Brooks Designing your own workouts can be quite a challenge. Even the most experienced exerciser who has a clear understanding of how to properly execute a variety of exercises can struggle with laying out a simple, effective program.  Designing a workout to fit your goals does need to be thought out. Over the years I have worked with many clients, including fitness professionals, who unfortunately design poor programs, which then cause them to become frustrated with their lack of results, and often create imbalances and injuries. As much as it’s exciting to constantly have fancy and fun exercises, keeping it simple and balanced is what will deliver the most results. Below are three workouts an experienced kettlebell user can do on their own. This program is for individuals who have continued goals of moving better as well as increasing their overall strength and conditioning.  This, of course, will ...

Getting Started with Kettlebells: How to Buy, Learn & Train by Lauren Brooks   Now that kettlebell training has become popular with fitness professionals, the mainstream population is finally catching on.  Seven years ago, when I picked up my first kettlebell , it was rare to find anyone who even knew what a kettlebell was. I remember for years explaining it over and over to my friends, new clients, other personal trainers, and family members. People still referred to them as “cow bells” or “kettle balls.” Someone once asked me how my “cow balls” were doing. I have to admit I had a real hard time keeping a straight face.   These days I’m happy to say I don’t have to explain what kettlebells are as frequently, and people are slowly starting to call them by the correct name.  Unfortunately, like any fitness tool that becomes popular it tends to get very watered down. Fly by night kettlebell certifications are constantly popping up as well as new ket...