Tears streamed down my face as I ran the final meters to the finish line of my first mountain trail ultramarathon. Overwhelmed by a mix of anger, gratitude and relief, I could barely breathe. My left knee was swollen and bleeding heavily. My hip ached. My right arm and hand were scraped raw. “I fell […]
From Broken To Unbreakable Read More »
I didn’t buy my first pair of kettlebells to build muscle. Quite the opposite. When I hit the “buy now” button on that fateful day in 2015, I hoped those oddly shaped cannonballs with handles would live up to the promise of delivering a great cardio workout. Two years prior, I had quit running because
How Kettlebells Rebuilt My Body and Mind Read More »
I stare at the photo in disbelief. Anger, sadness, and compassion merge into an overwhelming emotional storm as I try to understand. But no matter how hard I try, I can’t find a logical explanation for why I didn’t see back then what I do see now. I do, however, know why I have changed
The Ultra Life: What 40 Years and 100-Mile Races Taught Me About Distance Read More »
I bought my first pair of kettlebells in 2015. Sidelined by injury, I hadn’t run consistently in a few months, and the lack of movement was negatively impacting my mental health. I had tried to substitute riding a bike and hiking for running, but I didn’t particularly enjoy either. Besides, winter was around the corner,
Kettlebell Training for Runners – Ultimate Beginner’s Guide Read More »
My running journey started on the trails. I discovered my love for running in 2016 while living in South Africa for 6 months. Just 3 months after I had landed on the continent, I gained around 5 kg, which I disliked. And so I did what many people do when they want to lose weight
How Do You Train for an Ultramarathon When You Live in a Big (Flat) City? Read More »
Our gym’s cross trainer and treadmills have a program called “fat burning.” Whenever I instruct a new member in our gym on how to use the machines, I passionately educate them about why most programs they see on the cardio machines are useless, especially the fat-burning program. We are a women ‘s-only gym, and while
Imagine there was an exercise that would solve 99% of the problems caused by your sedentary lifestyle. An exercise that strengthens your weak back gives you an aesthetic ass and makes your abs pop. An exercise that simultaneously builds strength, power, flexibility, and endurance. And what if said exercise was easy to learn and had
Rapid Fat Loss Kettlebell Swings Read More »
The fitness world is filled with half-truths, myths, and bro-science passed down from one generation of fitness enthusiasts to the next. One of those myths is that you can’t build muscle with kettlebells. Even seasoned personal trainers argue that kettlebells are too light to be a valid muscle-building implement and that exposing your body to
Kettlebell Muscle Building Exercises Read More »
Before I started kettlebell training, I was at war with my body. I also didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life and felt disconnected from the people around me. I had just quit my promising career in climate change research because I was disappointed that science had become a political instrument. I
7 life lessons learned from 7 years of kettlebell training. Read More »
Most of us are sitting too much. Yes, even if you are an avid gym-goer, running enthusiast, or yoga lover. Just think about it. How often do you go to the gym, or are otherwise active? Unless you are a professional athlete or have a job that requires you to be on your feet all
Kettlebell swing how to Read More »