Building full-body strength can sound like quite the challenge to undertake but you don't need to overcomplicate your training to get there. If you've got access to one of the best kettlebells and have a spare 30 minutes then we have the perfect starting point for building strength and muscle in your upper and lower body.
Kettlebells are an extremely versatile strength training tool and can be worked into a whole host of exercises, activating muscles to offer up a solid heart rate-raising workout. Plus, the best kettlebell exercises are a sure way to fire up your core muscles, for improved strength and muscle definition in your midsection.
Once you've recruited your trusty kettlebell, you just need to get to know the full-body routine designed by trainer Heather Roberston. If you're more of a visual person, you can set up the video below showing her doing the workout and train alongside her.
Alternatively, we've outlined the workout structure below for those who prefer to move at their own pace or enjoy their favorite tunes through their best workout headphones, rather than listening to a generic YouTube soundtrack.
Watch Heather Robertson's 30-minute kettlebell workout
Robertson has factored a warm-up and cool-down into the routine. The warm-up wakes up your joints and muscles to perform at your best. Meanwhile, the cooldown aids your recovery, essential for the repair and growth stage of strength training.
It's a three-circuit routine, with four exercise in each. These are the moves you'll need to get started:
- C1: Single-arm row (R)
- C1: Single-arm row (L)
- C1: Overhead triceps press
- C1: Squat & row
- C2: Crunch & press
- C2: Push-up & press
- C2: V-Sit & curl
- C2: Reverse crunch
- C3: Stationary lunge (R)
- C3: Stationary lunge (L)
- C3: Deadlift
- C3: Swing & switch
While some like to spend hours strength training in the gym, Robertson keeps this full-body session short and snappy by formatting it into intervals. On each exercise, you will work hard for 40 seconds followed by 20 seconds rest before moving on to the next move.
This is known as high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and has many benefits beyond being an extremely time-efficient way to increase your strength. The high-intensity element of these circuits will also give your metabolism a healthy boost.
To 'boost your metabolism' is thrown around a lot in the fitness world, but it refers to is the fact that exercise can increase the rate at which your body burns calories. Some workouts are more effective at this, a popular and well-known one being HIIT.
When you combine resistance training with high-intensity training (to get high-intensity resistance training or HIRT), you can increase your metabolic rate both during and after exercise. The technical term for this is excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC), but it's also often referred to as the 'afterburn effect'.
Lastly, thanks to the variety of kettlebell exercises included in this routine, from powerful rows to explosive squats, you'll have the opportunity to work muscles in your upper and lower body while engaging your core muscles. With good form, this workout can contribute to building a stronger, more defined physique.
More from Tom's Guide
- Personal trainer reveals the 5 abs exercises most people are doing wrong — and how to fix your form
- Ditch the gym — build a stronger lower body with just a pair of dumbbells and 30 minutes
- 4 reasons you’re not building muscle in the gym — according to a strength and conditioning coach
