4 Philly-Area Kettlebell Workouts That’ll Help You Get Stronger

KG Strong offers one of the top Philadelphia kettlebell workouts. Photograph by Michael Persico

Old-school kettlebells may not seem very sexy, but their local fan following is growing. And that’s no surprise: Kettlebell classes let you get cardio in while you also strength-train. Here, the best Philly-area places to get swinging.

Good for Barre Babes: Kettlebarre

Hit a plateau with your barre workouts? Try Kettlebarre, a brand-new fusion workout designed by Juliet Sabella at the Wall Fitness studio. It trades those two-pound dumbbells for five- and 10-pound kettlebells, turning up the intensity on barre moves. (Think: one in each hand while you’re doing squat pulses; kettlebell swings between lunges.) $18 drop-in; 107 Cotton Street, Manayunk.

Good for Form Obsessives: KG Strong

Headed up by Best of Philly-winning trainer Katie Gould, this is the OG kettlebell studio in Philly. The gym just moved from its longtime Bok studio to a new space in the building that’s three times larger, but you can still expect personal attention from Gould’s staff of all-female coaches. Newbies can learn nitty-gritty techniques — who knew there was a wrong way to set a kettlebell down? — while seasoned pros are ensured a serious sweat. $28 drop-in; 1901 South 9th Street, East Passyunk.

Good for Pushing Limits: Precision Kettlebells

This Malvern studio moved into its biggest location to date — fit for 30 peeps and filled with natural light — in December 2017. Expect to do short bursts, like 20 to 40 seconds of kettlebell squats and overhead presses or turns on the rowing machines, followed by rest. The 45-minute workout changes daily, so you’ll always be in for a new challenge. $25 drop-in; 309 Lancaster Avenue, Malvern.

Good for CrossFit Fans: Urban Athlete

Kettlebells have been on the menu since 2006 at this Mount Airy gym, which — like any good CrossFit box — matches a gritty industrial environment with strong attention to technique during your swings, snatches, deadlifts and more. The workouts also mix in bodyweight exercises for some functional training. Days switch between beginner and advanced workouts, so you can suit your skill level. $20 drop-in; 7112 Germantown Avenue, Mount Airy.

Published as “Swing It” in the April 2019 issue of Philadelphia magazine.