Girya, poods & gireviks.

The Kettlebell.

 

The actual kettlebell, not the fad.

 

The kettlebell, or girya, were first mentioned in a Russian dictionary circa 1700.

 

Those that lifted kettlebells were referred to as 'gireviks.'

 

Kettlebells come in 'poods' or sizes/weights.

 

This device was actually originally used as a counter-weight for displays that merchants used to sell their wares in Russian markets.

 

Men began tossing around their girya to pass the time.

 

Eventually, people started to notice the benefit of tossing around the girya.

 

The ever efficient Russian military decided that they no longer wanted to waste their soldier's time with push-ups and other exercises.

 

Kettlebell became the official exercise of the Russian military.

 

 

 

 

Recently, the U.S. Secret Service has made mandatory a kettlebell workout.

 

The benefits are many.

 

Increased strength, stamina, flexibility. Increased muscle tone, weight loss, and burning fat.

 

Definitely not a fad.

 

I, at my peak of cockiness, believed that I could work the kettlebell into submission.

 

The professional has a kettlebell class Monday & Wednesday Nights. Why not try it?

 

Why not? I had a good solid three weeks of work-outs with the professional under my belt.

 

45 minutes of picking up balls would be a breeze.

 

 

 Wrong.

 

Very wrong.

 

Around minute FIVE, I was praying for God to take me down, again.

 

By minute 10, my body was numb. Problem solved.

 

Minutes 10-45 were a blur.

 

I remember being drenched in sweat.

 

I remember my legs feeling like they were going to melt out from under me.

 

I believe the survival instinct kicked in and allowed me to block out all the painful parts.

 

Once it was over, I made the attempt to run to my car. Run home to safety.

 

My legs froze mid lift. I could not run.

 

Once home, I could not get out of the car.

 

The days that followed...sheer pain.

 

Burn. Absolute burn. Just burn.

 

Day one: I avoided standing or sitting for any length of time.

 

Day two: I avoided the bathroom. No unnecessary sitting.

 

Day three: I was researching handicap bars for my bathroom. Gripping the walls to slow the descent of sitting was no longer working for me.

 

I did not do laundry. I did not go to the grocery store.

 

When I took the princess to school, I stopped at the end of the hall instead of walking her to the room.

 

Etc, etc...

 

Kettlebell is not a fad.

 

Kettlebell is a Russian Military and U.S. Secret Service mandatory workout.

 

Kettlebell is Monday and Wednesday nights.