How Many Kettlebells Should A Fitness Studio Have?

As a fitness studio owner, you might be wondering, do you even require kettlebells? In case you do, how many kettlebells should your fitness studio have? Most HIIT fitness studios tend to incorporate kettlebell exercises into their routines while others do not. The answer to your question depends on the routine your fitness trainers design for your studio. 

So, how many kettlebells should a fitness studio have? An average studio should have at least five kettlebell sets with multiple weight options: 4kg, 8kg, 12kg, 16kg, and 20kg. The average athlete requires two kettlebells for a workout. Small studios should have a minimum of five kettlebells, while large studios might have up to 50-100 kettlebells.

Even if your studio does not have routines related to kettlebells, for example, if you are a spin studio, it would be helpful if you provided some essential weight equipment such as kettlebells. In this article, I will give simple tips you can use to equip your studio with kettlebells.

Why Does My Studio Need Kettlebells?

Kettlebells are an essential piece of equipment that you should purchase for your studio. They are great for preventing injuries, motivating athletes to increase their weight progressively, and boosting strength in ways that cardio exercises can’t. 

If you’re not sure about whether you should invest in kettlebells or not, the following benefits of kettlebells might persuade you to make a purchase.

1. Kettlebells Increase Endurance

Kettlebell exercises can increase your power and improve your endurance as an athlete. They’re suitable for both athletes and average people who want to lose weight and improve their health. Even if your group exercise routines do not incorporate kettlebells, you should provide your members with access to them in case they wish to use them for warming up. 

2. Kettlebells Are Portable 

Kettlebells are typically lighter than plates and dumbbells, and they also come in varying sizes. Their lighter size makes them easy to transport and carry around the gym or fitness studio. They do not occupy a lot of space, so they are perfect for your fitness studio.

3. Kettlebells Are Fun to Use 

There are always new movements and poses to try out with kettlebells. Athletes can choose from hundreds of kettlebell exercises and don’t have to repeat the same dull exercises hundreds of times. This variety helps keep workouts fun, which is especially helpful in the repetitive world of weightlifting.

4. Kettlebells Help Build Abs

If you want to strengthen your abs for visual appeal, kettlebell exercises are a great way to do so, as most kettlebell workouts engage the abdomen on every lift.

5. Little Risk of Injury 

Treadmills, barbells, and other standard pieces of gym equipment can be hard on the joints and can even cause injuries. With lightweight kettlebells, you can do relatively risk-free swing exercises that go easy on your joints. This lighter weight makes you less susceptible to harm, even if you put a lot of effort into your workouts.

6. Kettlebells Allow You to Shift Your Gravity

When you’re playing sports, you often encounter forces of gravity that are hard to replicate in the gym because you’re moving fast and pushing your limits. 

Kettlebells tend to have a center of gravity around 7″ outside the grip, which allows athletes to shift the center of gravity during their exercise and better prepare themselves for the realities of sports.

7. Kettlebells Can Improve Your Grip 

You need a firm grip to hold a kettlebell, and extended bouts of exercise improve your forearm grip strength. If you struggle with grip strength or you want to increase your pulling power, kettlebell exercises will go a long way. 

8. Kettlebells Improve Cardiovascular Health

When you run outdoors or the treadmill, you’re putting pressure on the lower body, and your cardiovascular system adapts. You can obtain the same cardio benefits that you get from running with kettlebell movements.

9. Kettlebells Improve Posture

Kettlebell pulling requires excellent posture. Fortunately, these movements target the posterior chain, which improves your posture and makes each subsequent kettlebell exercise a bit easier to perform. 

10. Kettlebells Improve Coordination 

Full-body kettlebell movements can force your body to function as a single unit, boosting your overall coordination.

Average Price Of Kettlebells

Kettlebells are generally affordable compared to other commercial fitness equipment. If you purchase two kettlebells for personal use, you could spend as little as $50 for each. However, buying a set tends to be more expensive. The most affordable options go for $100, and they usually contain only two kettlebells. 

To get a full set with various levels of weights, you’ll pay upwards of $100-300 per set. 

The kettlebell rack is the most expensive part of this investment, and the high-quality frames can easily cost as much as $500.

How to Choose the Right Kettlebell Weight

The best kettlebell weight for women is around 20 lbs and about 40 lbs for men. If you aim for a range of 40 lbs, you can expect to see results in as little as a few weeks.

Pro Tip: Make sure you target the muscles you’re trying to develop and strengthen them before you lift. Don’t lift with weak muscles. Once you start lifting, you should feel discomfort, but you shouldn’t feel shooting pain. 

Top 3 Kettlebell Exercises for the Studio

Buying some kettlebells for clients to use is a good start. However, you should also be able to instruct them on what they can do with kettlebells. 

Squat and Curl With A Kettlebell

The squat and curl exercise is an excellent exercise for a packed gym where you don’t have a lot of space. You can get a full squat on a kettlebell, and the curl can target your biceps, giving you a full-body workout. The muscle groups targeted for this exercise will be biceps, abdomen, quadriceps, and the upper back.

Here are some step-by-step instructions: 

1. Start by pointing your feet at different angles and grab the kettlebell by the side handle. 
2. Aim your thighs in a parallel direction with the floor as you start squatting, and push your butt back. 
3. When you start raising your body, do a curl with both hands before you fully stand up. 
4. Do around 10-20 reps before you complete your workout.

Swing With A Kettlebell

The swing is an iconic kettlebell exercise and is often one of the first things you’ll learn at the gym. The swing combines cardio elements with strength training and gives you huge benefits in regards to a total-body workout. 

Here are some step-by-step instructions: 

1. Start by placing the kettlebell in the middle of your feet. You need to be standing directly on top of it. 
2. Lower your hips and start reaching for the kettlebell. 
3. Grab the kettlebell with both hands and stand very still.
4. Ensure both your arms are straight as you lift.
5. Start by slighting bending the knees and then lifting until the kettlebell it’s between your knees. This motion should resemble a squat. 
6. Use your hips to push forward as your arms remain straight, and then lift the kettlebell until shoulder height. 
7. Aim for at least 20 reps before finishing your workout.

Snatch With A Kettlebell

The snatch is a more advanced kettlebell exercise and is one of the hardest to pull off. You should only attempt the snatch after you’ve succeeded at squats and swings. 

The snatch targets the full body and allows you to do excellent core work in an intense movement. The snatch is perfect for building power as it targets the quadriceps, hamstrings, shoulders, back, and triceps at once.

Here are some step-by-step instructions:

1. Start by standing straight and placing the kettlebell between your legs. You should be on top of the kettlebell. 
2. Grab the kettlebell in one motion with a single hand and swing it upwards. The key here is to lift the ball of the kettlebell and land back on your wrist.
3. The kettlebell should make it above your head with your arms locked. 
4. Then, do the opposite and drop the kettlebell between your legs again. 
5. This exercise is intense, and ten reps should be to complete a full workout.

To conclude, a fitness studio will need anywhere between five and 100 kettlebells. The exact number you need will depend on the size of your studio and the number of members you have. 

NOTE: I have written an in-depth article on the unique business model of boutique fitness studios. This unique business model offers some fantastic advantages but also comes with inherent risks. In this article, I analyze how to find success in the boutique fitness business model. Give it a read!