I recently visited family in Oklahoma. My sister’s adorable baby turns one soon and my parents had a new house I wanted to visit. Plus, fall in Oklahoma is about as beautiful weather as one can experience.

My sister and her husband joined the brand-new Life Time Athletic in the Oklahoma City area. She and I have each gone through our own health journeys, but one thing remains the same: exercise is in our DNA.

She wanted to get to the gym, and I figured this was a great opportunity for a “new-to-me” class. I scoured the class schedule and found an interesting-looking one:

Kettlebell Kombine

After a lazy morning of coffee and baby playtime, we headed to the gym.

All I can say about Life Time is WOW. I think one could come and stay all day with all the amenities they have.

I checked in as a guest, we stashed our stuff in the luxurious locker rooms, and made our way to the group fitness room.

We introduced ourselves to the instructor and identified ourselves as newbies. Khairi was welcoming and gave us a quick rundown on what to expect in class. Then we grabbed some kettlebells (KB).

But first: What’s the deal with kettlebells?

Kettlebells are cast-iron ball-shaped weight with a single handle. Their center of mass is away from the handle, which may require more strength and coordination.

Benefits of using KB include:

• Enhanced athleticism, coordination, and balance
• Increased mental focus and physical stamina
• Increased oxygen uptake
• Increased total body conditioning
• Increased core stability and muscular endurance
• Increased metabolic demands and calorie expenditure

How to know what size kettlebell to get

One of the intimidating aspects about walking into a class and having to choose your weights is not knowing what to get. If I don’t know what we are doing, how do I know what to get?

This article from ACE Fitness recommends women use KBs between 8-15 pounds. Obviously adjust to your fitness level. Because this class was 45 minutes and it was my first time, I played it conservative.

I grabbed a 10-pound KB, and my sister grabbed a 10 and a 5. We both ended up going back for a 15. Bottom line: grab what works for you, and unless class size prohibits it, get several.

Class structure

Life Time’s description: Functional fitness for maximum performance. This class offers high energy, cardio and strength sports-conditioning drills with kettlebells and plyometric training.

That’s exactly what we experienced.

After a functional warm-up of squats and lunges, we grabbed the kettlebells.

Each set consisted of three movements with the kettlebell, then a 45-second cardio burst called “Kombine.” It could have been called “cardio burst of white spots” as my heart rate got waaaaaay too high. I found solace in knowing my sister experienced the same thing.

We repeated each set twice. I appreciate this method. I always have more confidence the second time I do something. It also allows me to adjust the KB up or down depending on the difficulty.

And then, of course, more cardio white spots. These moves were not new to me, but after the exertion of the kettlebell exercises, they just seemed extra hard.

Who can attend Kettlebell Kombine?

Because I’ve been teaching classes for 13 years, I have a tendency to observe the students. It’s a hard habit to break, even when I’m a participant.

It pleased me to see a range of ages, though admittedly I was on the upper end of that range. Several men attended as well.

What if I get tired?

One nice element of Kettlebell Kombine is while it’s a class environment, participants choose their own pace. There’s no pressure to keep a certain rhythm for fear you’ll be heading one direction while the rest of the class is going the opposite.

It also offers you empowerment over your own workout. Several of us, myself included, took mini breaks. We weren’t shamed or on the receiving end of dirty looks from the instructor. We simply took the moves and made them work for us.

Know before you go:

• Bring a water and sweat towel. You’ll need both.
• Wear whatever you feel comfortable in. I donned my Skirt Sports Pocketopia Romance print capris and the Free Flow Tank. I think every female had capris or leggings on (but mine were the cutest, thank you Skirt Sports.) Don’t forget to use my code, 166Conn, for 15% off your items at Skirt Sports if y
• Arrive to class five minutes early to claim your spot and get your preferred KB weight. (Don’t let these pictures fool you – the class was very full. I just waited to take pictures until after class was over so as not to invade anyone’s privacy.)

If you’re ever at a Lifetime Fitness gym, check out Kettlebell Kombine. You’ll have fun, get a great workout, and burn a ton of calories.

Interested in my other “new-to-me” reviews? Check them out here:

Bounce Fit Club with Kangoo Jumps

 High-Intensity Pilates

Epic 180-mile relay run

Pound Fitness

Sling Bungee Fitness

Orange Theory Fitness 

American Ninja Warrior

Title Boxing