Friday, September 25, 2009

Kettlebell Training Safe vs Unsafe

The contraversey: Is kettlebell training safe?

The answer: Yes, unless you're doing it all wrong.

There was a video awhile ago, with Jillian Michaels of The Biggest Loser demonstrating kettlebell exercises with bad form, in my opinion really bad form. And now, she's got her very own product endorsing kettlebells and their effectiveness.

Whoa! I'm concerned.

I can't say I've watched the DVD, and I probably never will unless someone sends it to me for free. What I can say is I've watched that demo and if the DVD is anything like the demo well then there's a lot of work to do, and a lot of concern to be had.

You see, I could look at this in two ways. One is I'll have plenty of people to instruct and re-train since they've probably been taught poor form, so I could benefit financially. On the flip side I've got worry about the potential loss of sales based on this DVD and if people are hurting themselves by not doing the exercises properly. People talk much more about bad experiences than they do positive ones, and they talk about it a lot faster.

It could either way. But here's my big question...

Didn't NordicTrack (the company promoting the DVD) recognize the ridicule Jillian Michaels received from her poor display? And if they did, what are they thinking? And if they didn't, again what are they thinking. I guess her name is big enough and recognized enough that it's not going to matter. Well it should. Integrity should matter.

Does it? Apparently not.

10 comments:

Sandy Sommer, RKC said...

Pamela,

Craziness, huh? I know that this helps build awareness of kettlebell training but at what cost? JM should be ashamed of herself.

Ms. Wolf said...

Amen sister! BJ and I were in Target and saw the dvds and we like WTH?

BJ Gaddour said...

Correction- I was more like FINALLY! Jillian Michaels has a Kettlebell Training DVD!!!

This is exactly what the fitness industry needs.

I can't wait to follow-along and battle through loss of spinal fluid and compound fractures from each rep as I mirror her flawless technique ;)

crank it!

BJ

Howie B said...

Let's just hope people see the video and decide to visit a trainer instead of buying the DVD!

Pamela MacElree said...

Thanks for the feedback guys and Naomi.

I kind of let the whole thing go when they first showed the clip of her on the Biggest Loser, but when I heard about the DVD I couldn't believe it, especially with all the ridicule (and well the bad form.)

Howie, I'm with you, but I'm also gonna make sure as many people know about this as possible.

It's just not fair to subject people looking for a solution to something could potentially harm them forever. Again, where's the integrity?

Howie B said...

Unfortunately many people leave their integrity at the door when there is money involved. Not all, but some.

By the way, I met a friend of yours at my local neighborhood park, Jeff Fields.

Pamela MacElree said...

Howie, So true. Jeff is a cool guy, glad you got to meet!

keith fine said...

I've seen some people doing some very awefull things with KB's,telling me they got off a DVD they got at some store.One client even told me that her friend told KB's are only for men.
Jeff Fields is a very cool dude,he works in the Physical Therapy Center at my gym.

Pamela MacElree said...

Kettlebells are only for men to use?! That's interesting, especially since all or at least most of those store bought DVDs are with women in them.

And the task continues...

Unknown said...

I found the QVC video and it's absolutely SHAMEFUL (and, unintentionally hilarious-- "swing up to eye level!"). The worst part is, it's a total ripoff... $120 for a KB that only adjusts up to 20 pounds. Jillian Michaels should be completely ashamed. I hope she comes across an RKC and gets a real education.