Retired Couple Works Hard at SKC

Former Captain of the Seattle Fire Department Peter Aoki and his wife, Lanell, who used to work for the city of Seattle, first gave SKC a try around the holidays when they purchased memberships as a Christmas gift.

Peter was recovering from a hip replacement and his chiropractor recommended kettlebells. While they had bells at home, they didn’t really know what to do with them, but now the couple is swinging bells like pros multiple times a week!

“I honestly didn’t think we needed to spend any money on a gym,” Lanell said. “Because we can run, walk, climb up the stairs, but now I think it’s just wonderful. As you’re getting older, if you should spend your money on anything, it should be your health and fitness.”

When they took our intro class, their instructor was Hailey, and the couple agrees that her fun and positive personality made for an enjoyable first class, and it didn't take long for them to fall in love with the club.

Lanell notes that since joining SKC, she’s gained more muscle and feels stronger doing yard work and other chores at home. The couple also participates in the Base 2 Space, and they are optimistic SKC’s pro kettlebell training will help with their annual journey to the top of the Space Needle. Pretty impressive considering Peter just turned 60! 

“I want to go into the next decade being healthy, so that’s another thing that bring me here,” Peter said. “It seems so old in my mind, and I just want to stay in good shape.”

“Paul (SKC trainer) said exercise is a way extend your warranty on your body,” Lanell adds.

Peter and Lanell have made their visits to SKC a part of their physical and social routine. They commute all the way from Lake Forrest Part 3-4 times a week, get coffee, come to the noon KettlFIT class, and take a walk around Greenlake. Sounds like the perfect couple's Kettle Date!

“Some people will ask why we go all the way to South Seattle to work out? We tell them we’re a part of this super special club, and they should come too!” Lanell said. “You just feel good about yourself. And I’d also like to say I think the club is beautiful. I want everyone to do kettlebells here!”

Thank you making SKC a part of your lives, Peter and Lanell!

-Camille Borodey

Motivation Monday: Michael and Lauren Stubel

Although Michael and Lauren Stubel are no strangers to the world of fitness, they love that Seattle Kettlebell Club is like no other gym they’ve been to, and admit that they were a little nervous about swinging bells for the first time. However, upon their first visit, that gymtimidation was quickly lifted.

“The nice thing is everyone is so eager to help, and you never feel embarrassed when you can’t do something,” Lauren said. “I felt so supported that I wanted to come back for the community long before I fell in love with the bells.”

“Coming into the first workout, I wondered how many workouts you could actually do with kettlebells,” Michael adds. “I’ve been pretty shocked with how many things you can do.”

“This felt like something I wanted to be a part of. I could tell that people like coming here, and they support you on your journey,” Lauren said.

Michael notes that other gyms simply have a goal of getting members to return, but he appreciates that SKC focuses on technique and safety while also wanting their members to succeed in their training.

“We were really close to building a home gym,” Michael said, “and [SKC] felt like everything a home gym is, but with the community, and a trainer telling me what I’m doing.”

While Michael has experience with a lot of traditional weight training, with his old routine, he got to a point where you felt like he was plateauing.

“I’m probably that obnoxious guy telling people kettlebell workouts are better than other things. I’ve done running, basketball, weightlifting- there hasn’t been one steady workout that I’ve done in the last ten years that I’ve felt this energetic about,” Michael said. “It just feels like I’m working out my full body rather than just doing chest or leg day.”

On a final note, Lauren praises that the class variety at SKC makes it so the couple has little difficulty motivating themselves to come to class.

“This is one of the places that even when I don’t want to work out, I still walk in the door, and I think it’s because I have a real relationship with all the instructors," Lauren said. "It’s the right amount of class for getting my strength and cardio in."

-Camille Borodey 

From Swinging to Swimming: SKC Helps Member Get Back in the Water

Following his physical therapist’s advice, Alic Shook gave up swimming for several month to recover from a shoulder injury. However, since he spends hours reading, writing, and sitting as a PhD student in nursing, Alic knew he had to find something to prevent him from losing his mind. It took just one visit to SKC for him to fall in love with the gym and kettlebells. Over time, the workouts have helped him with strength, posture, and balance. PLUS, he’s even swimming again! 

“My goal in life right now is to just have a body that is moving and working in the way that I want it to for a really long time."

“I like that the focus is on individual teaching, and one of my favorite things about the gym is that there are all different people, bodies, and ages who work out here, and I love that. I think that’s the thing that stood out to me right from the beginning,” Alic said.  

Alic has always been drawn to long distance exercises (running, swimming, biking) but never got into weight-lifting because he found it repetitive and boring… and he’s had a hard time enjoying gyms in general.

“I have not had good experiences in gyms,” Alic said. “I’m transgender, and I haven’t always felt comfortable in those environments. The anxiety provoking aspects of other gyms are eliminated at SKC for me, and I can just focus on working out! I tell others that this is a gym for people who hate gyms.”

“Every time you come is a new challenge. Some days the challenge for me is just getting here and finishing the workout. Other days the challenge is a want to lift heavier weights or do higher reps with lower weights."

While Alic is passionate about his work in his PhD program, he notes that the hours spent writing and studying can be isolating for his extroverted personality, so he’s happy that SKC offers him a healthy social outlet.

“One of the ways I justify spending money on a gym membership is that this is high quality. You get a coached workout.” Alic said. “As long as I show up, I know that when I leave, I will be in a better mood than when I showed up.”

Good luck with your PhD, Alic, and thank you for making Seattle Kettlebell Club a part of your routine!

-Camille Borodey

Hello, Summer. Goodbye 30 Pounds!

At the beginning of 2019, Tim Mulligan knew it was time to take his health up a notch.

“I hit my 50's and decided to get my health and fitness in check. I wanted to be a good role model for my family, and I knew beach days were right around the corner.” 

So, with a change in diet and plenty of resolve, he hit the ground running by taking five KettleFIT classes per week at SKC and has lost 30 pounds since mid-January!

“I’m good at routines; especially this year when I committed to coming every single day. They say 21 days forms a habit, and I think I formed that habit.”

Tim notes it’s easy to motivate himself to come to class frequently because they’re only 45-minutes, and the large variety of exercises makes every day a new and exciting challenge.

I asked Tim if he thought that people have misconceptions about kettlebell training. He said friends and family often have the idea that the exercises are bad for your back (which is the opposite of true).

“In the past I’ve struggled with knee issues and trouble with my back, and I feel like I don’t have those issues anymore. As I’ve gotten older, I think [kettlebell training] has helped me rehabilitate.”

Tim Mulligan is the Chief Human Resources Officer for Vulcan, and he lives in the Mount Baker area with his partner, Sean, two kids, and three dogs.

Congratulations on the great work, Tim! Thank you for making SKC a part of your fitness journey.  

-Camille Borodey 

Motivation Monday: Kettlebells Assist Couple on Travel Adventure

While most of us endured another wet Seattle winter, Romeo Giron and Chris Kendall spent two months in South Africa. Although they had a blast on their trip, the couple is excited to be back taking classes at Seattle Kettlebell Club.

The purpose of their trip was for Chris to do some work research, but the couple still made plenty of time for beaches, fine dining, and with help from SKC, some serious hiking!

“We were doing a lot of strenuous stuff. I don’t think I would have been able to do that if I hadn’t been [at SKC] conditioning for this long. There’s stuff we did in South Africa that I don’t think we would have done before,” Romeo said.

Chris agrees that their training made their trip more enjoyable, and notes that even though they had never exercised on vacation in the past, they didn’t want to be out of practice when returning to Seattle, so they squeezed in some kettlebell workouts while abroad- talk about dedication!

“In the few months we’ve been doing this, I’m easily in the best health I’ve never been in. This actually works!” Chris said.

Before becoming Seattle Kettlebell Club members, Romeo went to other fitness clubs while Chris was almost positive that gyms were simply not for him.

“I was never a gym person,” Chris said. “I would go running or for bike rides. I sort of just had a natural aversion to gyms.” 

Obviously, Chris’s attitude changed when the couple joined SKC’s 21 Day Challenge back in August. 

“It was just a completely different vibe," Romeo adds. "We had done CrossFit, and that was really not our speed. When we came here, we could tell it was a really nice community, and everyone was accepting."

“It seems [at SKC] that the emphasis is on community building and getting healthy as opposed to being competitive with others, which is what I sort of associate with other gyms,” Chris said. "I think this is a great place to work out and get fit for people that don’t see themselves going to a gym. That doesn’t mean that the workouts are in any way easier. SKC is just more welcoming and accessible than a lot of places.”

Chris is a professor in International Relations and Romeo is a web programmer. Since they both spend a lot of time writing and/or in front of a computer, they appreciate the social and physical benefits the gym brings to their daily lives. 

“Every day is a new challenge. To get us motivated to come here at 5:15 in the morning, it’s got to be really special. I always feel like I’m going to have a good time when I come here, and it’s a great way to start the day. It’s like our cup of coffee,” Romeo said.

Here’s a big shout out to Chris and Romeo for being a part of the SKC community! 

For more information on the 21 Day Challenge, follow this link.

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Wonder Woman Wednesday: Selma Dillsi “I’m in it for the long game.”

Before even joining Seattle Kettlebell Club, Selma Dillsi got a taste of kettlebell sport when she attended a competition to a support friend (we miss you, Ellie!). Seeing a competition really broke the wall of exclusivity that Selma had always associated with weight lifting.

Selma works in health care market research, and when she’s not swinging bells, she enjoys supporting local art and art activism. 

“It was the most intergenerational, body diverse, gender, and age diverse group of people I’ve seen throwing some iron around and smiling while doing it,” Selma said. “A jerk looks different on five different bodies. That was something I learned very early on in the sport.”

Selma discovered Kettlebell Sport when she went to a competition to support her friend, Ellie.

Although she was active before joining, Selma admits that her workouts had hit a plateau, and SKC was exactly what she needed to take her fitness to the next level. 

And she totally did! After being a part of SKC’s team for 3 years and competing multiple times, Selma decided to try something a little different for the IKFF Northwest Kettlebell Championships this past fall, so she completed an event that only the bravest of lifters embark on: the 30-minute one-arm long cycle!

“I wanted to try something with lighter weight that was new and fun,” Selma said. 

Selma has not only proved to be an amazing athlete, but her compassionate nature and sunny personality continues to brighten our community. While highly dedicated to her own training, she’s also a constant cheerleader for her fellow Kettlebears (SKC’s competition team).

“I just love the crew. SKC has been part of my community for 3 years,” Selma said. “Some of the folks I met here I consider real genuine friends that expand beyond the four walls of this gym.”

 “SKC is really my first introduction to class-based fitness outside of some yoga, so I just found that I was more motivated to come workout. I love the connection and the friends I have made."

Aside from the community SKC brings to her life, Selma enjoys exercise because of her interest in health, mobility, and the ever-evolving human body. Also, being someone who is partial to endurance, Selma encourages her fellow lifters to lift smart and focus on form versus trying to go super heavy all the time.

Major Throwback: Selma has been with SKC for over 3 years. 

“Being a part of a club and community for a few years, I’ve experienced times where my lifting has gone up and down, and that never made me think ‘okay, I’m going to stop lifting.’ I’m in it for the long game, and if that means I have to stop lifting for a period of time to do other sorts of therapy or go down in weight then I’m fine with it. I think that mind set is going to add to the longevity of membership.”

Thank you for being part of the team Selma! 

-Camille Borodey 

Workout Wednesday: The Rich Robins Challenge

Rich Robins is a good actor. He claims to hate working out, yet you wouldn’t know it due to his consistent presence at Seattle Kettlebell Club.

At SKC, we have a 21 Day Challenge, and I'll joke that a level up from that would be called The Rich Robins Challenge, which would include 6 classes a week (SPORT and FIT), a weekly session of barbell exercises, and the occasional handstand.

Along with getting a great workout at SKC, Rich admits to being a competitive person by nature, which is why he enjoyed competing at SKC 2nd Annual Pro-Am in December
PC: Truong Win

“Being from South Florida, working out is kind of something everyone does even from the smallest age. Having said that, I think it’s something that has been ingrained into me; however, as I’ve gotten older, I just want to be able to eat a tub of ice cream without feeling guilty.”

Rich ran track in high school, (he even coaches now too) and after moving to Seattle just over a year ago, he realized he was not a fan of running in an area so rainy and hilly, which is when his friend suggested he give SKC a shot.  

 Rich works for a leadership development and training organization, does stand-up, runs a Podcast, and DJ's with his brother.
PC: Truong Win

Rich appreciate the homey environment SKC offers and that he doesn’t have to plan his workout, yet he still gets a 45-minute session where “you can work your ass off.” He also notes that the classes here are extremely helpful in alleviating stress, and he no longer suffers from lower back pain.

Thanks for being part of the SKC community, Rich!

For more information on SKC's 21 Day Challenge follow this link. 

-Camille Borodey 

Motivation Monday: Heath Hayden Finds Strength in Kettlebells

Heath Hayden has always been super strong, which is why their wife suggested that they give kettlebell training a try. Although nervous about taking the Intro Classes, Heath now comes to Seattle Kettlebell Club 4 times and week! 

“I came in with chronic back pain, and after a month I realized my back didn’t hurt anymore,” Heath said. “I have more flexibility and more mobility, and I’ve noticed a huge improvement in my abilities to move about and do physical things.”

PC: Truong Win

Heath takes both KettleFIT and KettleSPORT classes at SKC. They enjoy SPORT for the technique training and FIT for the variety of exercises.

"It seems like Seattle Kettlebell club is constantly adding variety into movement, which I really appreciate," Heath said. "This is the only workout that has worked for me for probably a decade in terms of consistency. I think it’s largely because of the variety, and the instructors are really dedicated to helping improve. I just learn something new every time I come.”

Heath has also participated in SKC’s 21 Day Challenge on multiple occasions.

“I like that it’s a small period, and I like setting goals for myself. I think actually with doing the 21 Day Challenge, I’ve gotten more into goal setting, and I’ve never been into that at all," Heath said. 

Training for competitions is another way that our members set goals, and Heath competed for the first time back in December at SKC’s 2^nd Annual Pro-Am. They praise other members and the trainers for helping them come to the realization that competitions are much more about each lifter’s personal goals than they are about competing with others. 

Heath had a whole crew of supporters during SKC's last competition.
PC: Truong Win

And while Heath's fast progress and high class attendance is enough to prove that they love SKC, we can all admit that once in a while we need a little extra motivation to get to the gym after a long day’s work. 

“I think part of the effort is just getting here, but there have been times where I’ve not wanted to come and forced myself to be here. Then I came, and I felt 100 times better afterwards,” Heath said. “Forty-Five minutes is the perfect amount of exercise, but it’s also good quality exercise. Usually I just tell people, ‘it’s only 45 minutes. You can get through anything in 45-minutes.”’

PC: Truong Win 

Speaking of work, Heath is a librarian at Bellevue college and the chair of the LGTBQ Task Force on campus. When they aren’t swinging bells at SKC, Health enjoys aqua aerobics and exploring Washington. They also note that training with the SKC crew has improved their overall quality of life. 

“I really love Seattle Kettlebell Club. I love coming here. I love the members. They are so friendly and nice. Everybody’s always checking in with me; the instructors are really awesome too, and I just love the community feel," Heath said. 

 -Camille Borodey