Kettlebells offer old-school, full-body workout

SANDPOINT — If it was good enough to train Russian Special Forces, it’s got to be good enough for today’s workout warriors, right?

The centuries-old kettlebell workout, originally used to train Russian soldiers, is one of the newest rages in exercise in the U.S., effective for both competitive athletes and anyone simply looking for a good workout.

It’s current use runs the gamut from Mixed Martial Arts fighters to cyclist Lance Armstrong to the average Joe looking to keep in shape. Sandpoint’s Dan Mimmack, who had never been into lifting weights, has become a believer after taking kettlebell classes from The Integrative Athlete’s Danny Clark.

“Any body type benefits. It’s like a personal workout within the class and you work towards personal goals,” explained Mimmack, who loves the camaraderie of the class workouts. “The atmosphere he (Clark) creates is low key, not like a Gold’s Gym where everybody is pumped. It’s about everybody reaching their own level.”

The workouts are intended to increase strength, endurance, agility and balance, while challenging both the muscular and cardiovascular system with dynamic, total-body movements. Weights, each with a handle, range from 18 pounds up to “the beast,” which is 106 pounds. The weights are swung, snatched, cleaned, jerked and pressed in a variety of ways, most designed to engage the core muscles.

“They’re not raw strength exercises, you’re engaging the whole body to lift them,” explains Clark, who along with his fiancee Abby Corriveau are kettlebell certified under master Pavel Tsatsouline. “No impact on joints and you get the maximum benefit from the reps that you do.”

For more information on classes, or to sign up for the Kettlebell Boot Camp, visit “www.theintegrativeathlete.com.”