Hazelwood Residents Get Fit with Kettlebells Classes

Linda Eder hasn’t let the cold weather interfere with her plan to get in shape. Instead of jogging on 15-degree mornings and risking slipping on a patch of ice, she’s taking Dan Sullivan’s kettlebells class at the on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Sullivan, who teaches both beginners and intermediate kettlebells classes at the community center, explained that kettlebells are basically “cannonballs with a handle,” adding that they originated in Russia more than 200 years ago and have been in the United States for about 10 years.

Working out with kettlebells offers many benefits, including working out in a stationary position without putting too much strain on one’s body. It offers many of the same benefits as activities such as jogging or dancing, but is not as hard on the knees, making it ideal for people with leg injuries or arthritis. Kettlebell workouts are ideal for people of every age; in fact, Sullivan has two 80-year-old women in his class.

“Traditional weights typically isolate groups of muscles and are used for limited periods of time," he said. "Kettlebells train the user to use his or her body synergistically, allowing the user to develop strength, flexibility and cardio all at the same time.”

Coordination, balance and weight loss are additional advantages of kettlebell weights. Using various techniques such as thrusts, squats, presses, one can keep up one's heartbeat while targeting problem areas such as thighs, glutes and abs.

Eden, who is 67, said that her goal in taking the beginners kettlebell class was to get in better shape.

“When I took this class about a year ago, I was so impressed with the results," she said. "I lost several inches around my waist.”

Eden said she had taken some time off to travel and was hoping to get her body back into shape before spring arrived.

“Dan is a great teacher,” Eden said. “He demonstrates what we should be doing, but is also very attentive.

"He observes each of us to make sure we are using the kettlebells correctly, and if we’re not, he shows us how to do it.”

Greg Viehman, the recreational supervisor for has been friends with Sullivan for years. Viehman said that after he suffered a heart attack a year ago, Sullivan told him he needed to take care of his body and encouraged him to take a kettlebells class.

“After getting the OK from my doctor, I took the class and it has drastically improved my health,” he said. “I saw a change in my body and can definitely feel the difference.”

Now, Viehman said he is a huge advocate for the classes. Be sure to check out more photos in the .