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PUBLICATION: CHAGRIN VALLEY TIMES
DATE: 07-17-2008
HEADLINE: Kettlebell helps people swing into new form of fitness routine


Kettlebell helps people swing into new form of fitness routine

By MELISSA SCHULTE

Diane Salettel, owner of the new Kettlebell Studio in downtov\?n Chagrin Falls, is training people of all fitness levels in an exercise once used exclusively hy the Russian military.

The kettlehell, or "girya" in Russian, has heen gaining popularity in the United States since Pavel Tsatsouline, a former Russian special forces trainer, defected from the Russian Army and hrought his passion to the states in 2000. Now the U.S. military, professional athletes, celehrities and average fitnoss-minded people are incorporating the kettlehell into their workout routines.

A kettlehell is a casf-iron weight in the shape of a cannonhall with a flat hotfom handle on top. The hasic kettlehell exercise is the "swing," where the hody starts in a squat position and the weight is swung backwards befween the legs then thrust forward to chest level.

On his Web site, Mr. Tsatsouline states fhat kettlehelLs "deliver extreme all-around fitness, and no single othor fool does it better."

Mrs. Saletlel is a firm believer in fhis philosophy, she said. "Insfead of wasfing time doing .single joinf and imiscii! exorcises for 20 minutes each, with kettlebells, you get an aeroi)i(; and slrength-biiihiing, tolal body wurkoul in 20 inhuiles."

Working as a personal trainer for eight years, Mrs. Salettel started swinging keftlebolls and using fhem witii her clients fwo years ago. Since fhen, she has frained and earned her kutflebell c:(!rfification under fhe guidance of Mr. Tsafsoiiline. She is one of fhro« insfrnctors in Ohio fo have attainLid a second-level Russian keftlehell certificate.

She helieves the advantage of training with kettlehells comes from the off-center structure of the weight, Mrs. Salettel said. "Most everything we deal with in life is off-halance. We need to strengthen the ligaments and

tendons that support our everyday functions."

Before keftlehells, she used truck tires, kegs and large rubber bands in her training routine to achieve fhe off-center weight that a keftlehell provides. "I never nse weighf machines, treadmills, or ellipticals. To put someone on a treadmill for 15 minufes, you might as weii be robbing them," Mrs. Saleffel said.

Lauren Krupar, a 25-year-old master's student and a former compefifive swimmer, is a client at fhe new Kettlebell Studio. "I've done different weight training before, and I just got so bored," she said. "I don't think I've ever done anything the same since coming fo kettlebell classes. It's always different all around, which makes it more fun."

Alfhough an athletic background might help when a person begins keftlebell training, it is not necessary according fo Mrs. Saleffel. Her clients come from a wide specfrum of backgrounds and ages, she said. "Anybody can do a kettlebell workshop. Currently, I have my daughfer, whn'.s a lO-yenr-old, swinging, and my oldest client is around 5;j. i've seen people much older than fhaf swinging kefflebells, and the fraining keeps fhem healfhy and young."

When she starts working with a client. Mrs. Saleftel takes fhem through a "fiincfional movement screen." During fhis process, she analyzes what areas the person needs fo work on and also whaf limifafions fhey mighf have due to injuries, she said. "I always take the client into consideration and build a routine that works for them."

An example of how the screening process benefits her clients is seen in Dan Ross. "I have a really bad back," he said. "When I do kettlebells, it strengthens my whole core, so I don't have the had back anymore."

Mrs. Salettel's emphasis on personal attention is evident in the

small size of fhe keftlehell group sessions. Wifh a maximum number of six parficipants, she is ahle fo watch her clients closely as fhey run fhrough a progression of squafs, swings, cleans, snafches and other kefflebell exercises.

Before enrolling in a group session, Mrs. Saleffel requires fhaf people attend a kefflebell workshop, which cosfs $25 for 1 1/2 hours. In the workshop, she teaches clients the basic techniques of fhe kefflehell and ensures fhat each person is doing fhe movemenfs properly fo avoid injury, she said. She also offers personal fraining sessions.

She believes fbe amounf of classes

a person should atfend per week depends on fheir fifness goals, she said. "If you're a professional athlefe, obviously, you would train more often. If you're a busy mom who wants fo fit info a dress, lose a couple pounds and do a kick-huff workouf that doesn't fake you away from fhe kids for foo long, fhen kefflebells fiiree days a week will gef you to your goal."

In his training videos, Mr. Tsatsouline said you do not have to he a Russian soldier to particijiafe in kottlebell training. "Hard comrades of all persuasions" can frain wifb the Russian weight, he said.

Photo by Itamar Gat

Diane Saleftel instructed Susie Orchen, of Solon, in the proper use os kettlebells at fier nevj Kettlebell Studio in downtown Chagrin Falls.