Formosa Fitness

One of the first misconceptions we have to do away with when starting kettlebell training is this idea of training the hamstrings, triceps, etc. I think of this as the Muscle and Fitness or Shape magazine idea of training -- they train muscles or body parts instead of movements. Functional fitness is about moving, things that you should be able to do everyday. Think of the guy that has to be able to move boxes all day. He isn't moving in a way that he can only do for brief periods of time 3 days a week. He's using the whole body everyday. That's more of what we're moving towards.

The kettlebell movements are done a bit more sparingly at first to allow the client to break into the moves more easily. But I try to have them work up to at least being able to swing and squat, push and pull in some fashion everyday. This is where function is built. You have to be able to do it daily or it isn't useful.

But switching gym goers to this model takes time and patience. They need time to understand that the kettlebell paradigm is different. Tricep extensions are out unless isolating that helps build the whole.

Working the same "body parts" everyday is a new concept for some. Let it sink into your thinking.