Kettlebella

The latest craze to hit the fitness world: Russian kettlebells. They look like canon balls with handles and working with them can resemble hernia-​inducing torture. Somehow, a couple years back, I got roped into going to a kettlebells class at Kettlebella — and, let me tell you, I haven’t looked back since, have been going to classes weekly, and feel strong like bull (and I’m five feet tall!).
There are many kettlebells gyms and studios around Rhode Island and nearby MA, but I boldly state that no class would be as enjoyable, positive, and challenging as the classes at Kettlebella, taught by owner Michaela Foulkes. Her classes are great for men and women, beginning to advanced, as each person works with weights that are appropriate to their ability.
Kettlebell training is different from other weight training as it does not isolate muscle groups, but instead builds leg, back, and arm muscles simultaneously with its ballistic and centripetal movements and burns fat at crazy fast rates. There is nothing easy about working with kettlebells, though, and many of the movements can be back and knee injuries waiting to happen. Sensitivity to this fact is why Michaela is such a great trainer. She is a true disciple of the kettlebells movement (her rock hard body is a testament of their effectiveness) and is constantly working to better her form and understanding of them. She believes in stressing correct technique, and gently guides students through the workout with a great blend of blunt critique and positive support.
No two of her classes are alike, so each workout is new — even to those who have been attending classes for the two years that she has been open. She always conducts classes using intervals — short, intense bursts of exercise coupled with periods of rest. This is great so students can push themselves pretty far as they know they will be able to rest and recover shortly. Don’t be fooled, though, by the small frame and blond hair — Michaela is no airhead. She remembers what weights her students have worked with and constantly challenges them to go up in weight and reps each week. PLUS she always plays killer music to help lessen the blows of her difficult workouts.
If you are looking to torch some fat (who isn’t?), build strength and stamina in a way that is much more thrilling than a jaunt on some mundane cardio equipment, I highly recommend taking a class with Michaela at Kettlebella.