A kettlebell is a cast iron weight with a handle. Developed in Russia, the original kettlebells weighed approximately 35 pounds, but with the advancing popularity of kettlebell training in the US and abroad, the weights can be found ranging from 5 pounds to 175 pounds each. Used properly, kettlebells provide a great cardio workout and can also build strength and bulk. What is unique about kettlebells as weights is that their center of mass is not fixed. This, and the handle, allow for swinging and releasing movements that are just not possible to do with traditional barbells. Because of the...

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Slacklining is all about balance. It's not a sport in which you compete against others; it is all about personal improvement. A slackline is essentially a long and extremely narrow trampoline. It is fairly taut, but stills sags a fair amount when weight is applied. Most slacklines are created between two "anchors" (trees are commonly used), using three sections of one-inch nylon webbing. The two shorter sections are called "tree slings" and are tied firmly around the anchor, while a carabiner on both ends connects the central slackline between the anchors. I am absolutely awful at slacklining. Granted, I have...

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Doing push ups should never get old or boring to you. Push ups are excellent training methods for your body and there are so many different ways to do one that you can exercise a myriad of the muscles in your body. They can be hard to do, but that is the point -- they are a tough to do, but they are worth it! Push ups are a superb upper body exercise that promote balance, strength, and stability. They also help to increase overall fitness, range of motion, endurance, and flexibility. They develop muscles such as your triceps, your deltoids (shoulder...

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Cross training. Well, what is it? The words should give it away to some degree; cross training means that one would partake in different sports while focusing on their main sport in order to improve overall performance. For instance, some runners cross-train by riding their bike or doing laps in a pool once or twice a week.  Cross-training is really important in order to become stronger overall. This is because with cross-training you are able to exercise some muscles that may not typically be used during your typical exercises. By working out muscles that you do not typically use,...

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Ever since January 22, 2010, my guilty pleasure and obsession has been with the new Starz original series, Spartacus: Blood and Sand. The show talks about a man who was betrayed by the Romans, forced into slavery, and reborn as a gladiator. In order to play these beasts of the arena, all the actors had to participate in a month long “Gladiator Camp.” For 4 hours straight every day, these actors had to engage in cardio, sword fighting, gymnastics, and weights. Part of the intense workouts that the actors engaged in were the combined exercises that made sure that...

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