Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (April 25, 2018)
Wednesday, April 25, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon 17 The Tsar of Weights By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief There are a lot of Russians in the news these days, from Russian hackers to Russian hookers. We may be slipping into a cryogenic 21st century Cold War II — but I main- tain a warm spot in my heart for one product of Russia: the kettlebell. The Tsar of Weights. Kettlebells are simply a big, round iron cannonball with a thick handle. I have two. To speak a little Russian, one weighs 1.2 pood (that’s 20kg or 44 pounds), the other is 1.5 pood (24kg or 53 pounds). So... what’s to love? • They’re old-school. In recent years, there’s been a renaissance of old-school strength and conditioning techniques, from bodyweight exercise to “strong man” training. That renaissance is based on good science that has demonstrated that many traditional strength training techniques are not only valid, but in many ways superior to protocols that have come and gone over the past 30-40 years. Around the turn of the 20th century, Russian kettle- bells were a common tool for the strongmen who were part of exhibitions from the vaudeville stage to traveling carnivals. That kind of thing stokes my traditionalist heart. The big fitness revival that started in the 1970s was often extremely trendy and machine-centric. Old-timey tools like the Russian kettle- bell faded away. Except in Russia, of course. There, the traditional tool remained part of the arsenal of the strength elite — and they were a favorite conditioning device for Soviet Spetznaz Special Forces. Pavel Tsatsouline was a strength and conditioning coach for those special forces, and when he emigrated to America, he launched a sort of kettlebell revolution. • Kettlebells are effec- tive: No question, kettlebells are cool. They lend a certain badass cachet to your work- out program. But kettlebells wouldn’t have caught on the way they did on the strength of their cool factor alone. • They deliver. The basic principles of kettlebells involve a lot of swinging and “catching” of the weight — bal- listic effort. That builds coordina- tion, resilient con- nective tissue and a lot of the current holy grail of strength train- ing: “functional” strength. That’s why they’ve become a fixture at Crossfit boxes. It’s not that you can’t get that effect at the gym —or through bodyweight exercises, or just with a conventional dumbbell. It’s just that the kettlebell allows you to do so many different things so effectively with just one piece of iron. Many gyms now have a selection of ket- tlebells. (Best to have some- one knowledgeable show you how to use them properly.) Used correctly, kettlebells offer strength and condition- ing in a single, portable pack- age. Compound moves are the name of the game with kettlebells, and with a good circuit of exercises, you can jack your heart rate for cardio ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/MASKARAD conditioning and build your strength at the same time. • Kettlebells are conve- nient: I keep a KB by my desk so I can get a physical break from the keyboard. And a vigorous set of snatch- presses is a great mood eleva- tor. I throw them in the truck and take them out to the woods for a workout, or out to Zimmerman Butte for an improvised biathlon: lifting and shooting. Lots of folks work out with them on the beach. Anywhere I travel by car, a KB goes with me. • Kettlebells are fun: Any trainer will tell you that the key to long-term success with any training program is enjoyment. The more fun you’re having, the harder you’ll work. Kettlebells offer a virtually limitless combina- tion of exercises (Youtube is full of sample programs). You won’t get bored. And, bottom line, there’s just something primally satisfying about swinging that big ol’ cannon- ball around. Wellness Wednesdays Now through June — Special Wednesday Pricing... 60-min. Classic Swedish Massage $85 Reg. $120 60-min. Shibui Customized Facial $85 Reg. $125 When you mention this ad. Shibui Spa at FivePine There’s breaking news from Shibui Spa: Winter Wellness Wednesdays are extended into June. Shibui Spa will continue offering loyal clients a special price each Wednesday. That’s great news for folks who know that massage and spa treatments are more than an indulgence — they are a critical part of a holistic approach to health and wellness. Now, make no mistake — you will feel indulged on your retreat from the world at Shibui Spa, and that is a very good thing. Replenish your body with massage, bring forth a glowing complexion with a customized facial or rejuvenate your senses with an Ayurvedic Shirodhara treatment. All of the treatments at Shibui Spa will not only make you feel good, they’ll help you be fitter and healthier inside and out — ready to fully enjoy the season of beauty and activity that is arriving now in Sisters Country. Call 541-549-6164 Th e path to better health starts with a single step — call for your 2-week complimentary trial membership (new members only) 541-549-6878 www.sistersathleticclub.com
