Why Kettlebells Deserve a Spot in Your Training, Group Classes, & Our “Scorcher” Workout

If you’ve trained with us for a minute, you already know we love our kettlebells — and not just because they look cool sitting in row of graduated beefiness along the gym wall. Kettlebells bring something to your training that dumbbells, barbells, and cables just can’t replicate: they demand movement, not just muscle.

Here’s the gist: Because the weight sits below the handle (instead of evenly distributed like a dumbbell or barbell), kettlebells create an unbalanced load that constantly challenges your grip strength, core stability, timing, and coordination. The various ways to hold and work with them also makes them exceptional tools for training power generation, particularly through the hips, as well as reactive strength — the ability to control and redirect force quickly. The other tools we mentioned can do this too, but not like a kettlebell…

Where cables or barbells might lock you into a controlled, predictable path, kettlebells thrive in fluid, athletic patterns like swings, cleans, and snatches. They teach you to manage momentum rather than fight it, helping you develop the kind of real-world strength that translates well to sports, outdoor adventures, and even everyday movement.

For beginners, kettlebells are a great way to build strong, safe movement mechanics — particularly when it comes to hinging and bracing. For more experienced trainees, kettlebells expose weak links (grip and core, coordinating through multiple planes of motion, timing, etc. to name a few) and demand precision under fatigue, making them a powerful tool for both conditioning and skill refinement.

The Scorcher: A Quick, Full-Body Kettlebell Countdown

To show off exactly how much work you can get done with just one kettlebell, Coach Jess (our resident kettlebell wizard) and I put together a spicy little finisher we call The Scorcher. It’s a fast-paced, full-body circuit countdown that blends strength, power, and conditioning into one seamless flow.

🎥 Check out the video below for the demo:

The rules are simple:

✅ 5 moves, 1 kettlebell, zero rest for the bell
✅ Count down from 10 reps to 1 (so 10 reps of each move, then 9, then 8… all the way to 1)
✅ The moves:

• Russian Swings

• Goblet Squats

• Goblet Press

• Single Arm Rows (each arm)

• Offset Push-ups (each arm)

It’s quick, it’s effective, and yes — you’ll be questioning life choices by round 5-7. But when you’re done, you’ll have hit nearly every muscle group while training power, strength, and endurance in a beautifully brutal package. Choose your kettlebell wisely!

Want More Hands-On Coaching? Join Us for Small Group Training now M/W/F @ 7:30am!

If you’re itching to level up your kettlebell game (or just want a fun way to get strong with friends), starting March 10th we’ve got Semi-Private Group Training spots open Monday/Wednesday/Friday at 7:30am. These small-group sessions capped at 8 participants give you the personal attention you need, with the energy and accountability of training alongside other motivated folks.

And if you didn’t know — Coach Jess is an actual kettlebell wizard. Seriously. Come for the workout, stay for the magic

.Interested in what you can do to get the most out of your daily exercise routine and work 1:1 with a coach? We have some personal training slots open with Coach Jess! For a free consult, sign up here.

Annadel 5k/10k/half is approaching! With about 4 more weeks to train, check out our run template and get after it! Don’t forget to sign up too!

Questions? Curious about technique? Want to give The Scorcher a try? Let us know — we’ll see you in class!