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 How
to Work with Special Populations as an RKC—And
Help Them Regain Control of Their Bodies
Andrea Du Cane, Senior RKC
I like to consider myself a movement coach. Most of my clients come
to me wanting to learn more than how to swing a hunk of iron. They
are coming to me to regain control of their bodies. I am teaching
them to breathe, to feel their bodies, how to move, how to use the
right muscles for the job, and hopefully get them out of pain.
I am giving them a chance to not only change their bodies, but change
their lives.
As an RKC instructor, it is very important to be able to identify on
some level with your clients’ physical limitations. What must
it be like to live with pain, to lack a decent range of motion, to
not have strength or energy to do daily tasks? You may be seen as a
last resort by some of these people. They’ve been to doctors,
PTs, body workers, chiropractors and maybe nothing has helped, or perhaps
they were referred by one of them.
You’ll need to develop the skills to work with these clients.
There will be cases that you will not be capable of handling. It is
always the best policy to be honest and send them to someone else,
or contact another RKC that has more experience in that area.
What are “special populations” for an RKC?
In Working
with Special Populations, you get a variety tools and ideas on
how to best handle special populations. This includes: older clients,
de-conditioned, post-rehab, and those with various old tweaks and injuries
that inhibit proper movement and functioning.
After the initial assessment, which should include ROM tests, basic
movement patterns, gait, overall fitness level and of course a full
medical history to screen for any serious contraindications, you are
ready to begin. This information will tell you where to begin, and
what your initial focus will be.
Some of what I present, you may have seen, done or are familiar with.
I hope to introduce a new way to look at and utilize many drills that
you already know. In other words, we don’t have to re-invent
the wheel every time we set out to work with someone.
I hope to give you a new way to look at these drills, as well as why
and when to use each to achieve a specific result.
You will get a target for each exercise and the proper cueing, what
to watch for. I will provide you a basic strategy and general order
of the drills to work with special populations. I also include what
I call “pre-kettlebell” drills. It may not be possible
for some clients to immediately start using kettlebells. For instance,
if a client does not have enough body awareness to maintain neutral
spine, or to track their knees properly you will want to deal with
those issues before having them do kettlebell swings. Or, perhaps,
your client cannot raise their arm overhead without lifting the shoulder
or bending the elbow. I show you some drills that should be taught
first.
The order and pace you teach these clients is also covered. Never start
with overhead drills and don’t rush the process. That may seem
obvious, but many clients may want to start pressing too soon, or want
to move up in weight too quickly. Your job is to keep their pace and
progression successful and safe.
Here is a general list and order of my presentation:
Sizing up your client: Obtaining enough information
to get a baseline of their current fitness and health level. Starting
with basic body positioning. This would include teaching neutral spine,
proper back and knee alignment and breathing. I would also include
any joint mobility, such as ZHealth or Super Joints. This is also where
you would do any assessment protocol, again ZHealth or Gray Cook’s
screening.
Building the Foundation: When you build a
house you start with the foundation. The legs, hips and glutes
are the foundation of our bodies. That’s where you’ll
generally start. This includes, Bottom KB Deadlifts with a
rocking motion, Box Squats, Wall Squats (with or without bands),
Figure 8s, Shoulder Bridge with knee squeeze. Once your clients
get stronger you can add, Box Pistols and One Legged DLs, Step-back
Lunges with a KB pass.
Contemplate your center: Now that
we’ve developed a foundation it’s time
to build the frame. To be frank, you cannot pick
up a kettlebell without using your core. And you
can’t work the abdominals without making
sure the lower back and pelvis are in a healthy
alignment. This section includes the neutral spine
exercise, Power Breathing with knee squeeze, Sling
Shot, One-Arm Suitcase DL, Russian Twists.
Reach for the stars: Once the
lower body and core are strong and stable, it’s
time to start to work the upper body. This is another
problem area, the shoulders. Due to injury, many
clients lack the mobility and flexibility to safely
hold a KB overhead in a locked out position. I
have some simple drills that target the shoulder
to help strengthen the small stabilizer muscles
in a safe, controlled way. This includes, Shoulder
exercises with 5lb balls, Bands that target the
rhomboids and lats, Wall Squats with bands. Once
they have the stability and strength I move to
Kettlebell drills; walking around in the Clean
position, Farmers Walks, Waiter Walks, Arm Bars.
Corkscrew Windmills (without a kettlebell)
. 
The information on this Working
with Special Populations will be some of the most useful and valuable
for your Kettlebell training business. The majority of your clients
will fit one of the above profiles. You will need the right tools and
proper approach to positively impact your clients. The genuine gratitude
and appreciation you receive by helping these people will give you
the greatest of satisfactions as well as develop a financially successful
business.
Click here for more information on Andrea Du Cane’s 2-DVD set Working
with Special Populations.|
Contact Andrea Du Cane for workshops,
classes and private lessons.
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ZHealth
Info Workshop
Wed. September 5th
Contact Andrea for more information >>
Sunday ZHealth Class
This is the first (and only) group ZHealth class in the Twin Cities.
Sundays, starting September 16th - October 14th.
11:00 am
Class size will be limited. Must pre-pay.
Cost: $80
Location: Karate Junction
1565 Como Ave., St Paul, MN 55108
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Kettlebell
Workshops
Wednesday, August 29th
Broomfield, CO
Contact: Bryan Dickinson
bryan.dickinson@comcast.net
Thursday, August 30th, 7:00pm
GYMonica Personal Training Studio
3101 Walnut St
Denver, 80205
Contact: Robin Smith
Positively_fit@hotmail.com
702-355-9529
Friday, August 31th 4:00pm
GYMonica Personal Training Studio
3101 Walnut St
Denver, 80205
Contact: Robin Smith
Postively_fit@hotmail.com
702-355-9529
Friday, August 31th 6:30pm
ABC Fitness & Yoga
2323 S Troy St
Building 1 104
Aurora, CO 80014
Contact: Brian Copeland
brian@bccorefitness.com
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The Kettlebell Goddess Workout
DVD
“Stay Strong, Young, Toned and Vibrant
With Andrea Du Cane’s High-Powered,
Super-High-Energy Kettlebell Cardio and Strength Workouts”
"Watch Kettlebell Goddess and you will know why Andrea Du Cane
is the leader in women's kettlebell training." - Pavel Tsatsouline
"A great video!"
The ancient Greek Goddesses were famous for their vigorous
and vibrant strength, their power, their grace and their
physical elegance.
Now you have a realistic chance to make even a Greek Goddess green with
envy as you match—if not surpass—them for athletic grace
and high performance!
In this superbly produced, interactive, menu-based DVD, Senior Russian
Kettlebell Instructor, Andrea Du Cane challenges and inspires you to
seize that ideal of elegant strength and make it your own.
Andrea’s powerful array of authentic kettlebell workouts, plus
cool downs and stretches, are guaranteed to reward you with greater energy,
greater well being, greater strength and a superb figure. Fit for the
Goddess you know you are!
Choose from a wide variety of Upper Body, Lower Body, Abs and Cardio
workouts, then mix and match to create your own customized training program
for godly perfection. Your results will be strictly divine…
Or simply follow along with one of the six Goddess Workouts for a complete,
carefully targeted session designed to carve away the fat and sculpt
lean, toned muscles—ready and willing to take on the world and
win it all. Just like Athena… Just like Nike…
Once the hard-kept secret of elite Russian athletes, special forces and ‘manly’ men,
the kettlebell is now becoming the preferred tool for women who are tired
of being merely human and tired of mediocre results—and who demand
fast fat loss, high energy and exceptional physical performance, now!
Let Andrea show you the way…
Receive inspiring, first-class personal instruction
from one of the nation’s top female kettlebell
athletes.
Renew yourself with a constant variety of targeted,
high-yield workouts that meet your changing needs.
Redefine your body and exceed your mortal limits, with
the divine challenge of Andrea’s patented Goddess
Workouts.
Includes a Special Bonus Section of additional drills
to add further variety and power to your workouts.
Contents include a PDF on How to Get the Most Out of Your Kettlebell
Goddess Workout DVD—plus special programming tips.
 Download
DVD Info and Programming Tips
Learn More About The Kettlebell
Goddess DVD >>
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Spotlight
Reviews
Awesome!
Rated 10 out of 10
I placed an order for Andrea's DVD when I was in St. Paul for the
September RKC. Receiving it in the mail 2 days ago, I popped it
into my computer for a mini sample workout before work and have
to say that in one quick "Goddess" segment I was smoked
and stoked! From the picture quality, angles at which each exercise
can be viewed, as well as the concept and content packed into this
user-friendly DVD, it triples as a work-along workout, a reference
on proper form, as well as a workout structure guide. While I am
an RKC and not a new kettlebeller, along with all other kb practitioners
I'm sure, I am and should always be constantly working to refine
my form. Andrea's clarity (along w/that of Kristann's and Nicole's)
in explaining and displaying each exercise is worth the price of
the DVD alone. One of my trouble exercises is the simple yet complex
clean. Just by viewing the "quick start review" feature
of the DVD, I already feel like I have a better understanding of
this exercise that plagues me and things are really starting to
click! it is the subtleties in form after all that makes all the
difference at the end of the day as we practice this skill called
strength. One complaint that I often have with predominantly female-tailored
exercise guides is that they often assume its audience is beginner
level; "Goddess" is for all-users (men included) and
I'd even veer to say that its workouts are quite advanced, although
they can be paced to any fitness level, as the 3 ladies each show
a different variation on each exercise. I could go on and on but
I hope you'll all be the judge and do yourselves a favor to grab
a copy of your own. Great job Andrea and I look forward to working
with you again!
- Anna Shum, Boston, MA
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Hard
Core Workout!
Review Rating: 10
Andrea Du Cane provides some tough workouts on The Kettlebell Goddess
DVD. This DVD is not for beginners, but it is a great way for someone
familiar with basic kettlebell exercises to get a great challenging
workout. Each of the goddess workouts are great no-frills, no-nonsense,
kick-butt exercise routines. I really enjoy the relax into stretch
segment at the end of each workout.By the way, this DVD is not
just for women! My boyfriend loves it as much as I do (though he
did complain about not being able to keep up with women wearing
pink shirts).
- Mary
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Rated
10 out of 10
I received the DVD a couple of days ago. If I could I would give
this DVD a 20 instead of a 10. Most DVD's only give you a stripped
down version of a workout. This marvelous DVD gives you not only
1 workout,like most DVD's.It gives you An infinite amount of them,
and they include a warm-up portion and a cool-down routine that
is out of this world. These workouts will work you out even if
you use a light kettlebell.The instructions are clear cut,and concise
for all to understand.Guys will love this DVD as well.
- Karen R. Queen, Tampa, Florida
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Finally!!!
Review Rating: 10
I am so excited about this DVD! I have been training with KB's
for three years now off and on, and I have to admit that my motivation
has been running low in the past year, and this is just what I
needed! Someone to push me, something simple, something structured.
I have been waiting for a DVD like this for a looong time and now
it is finally here! What I like best with it is how it is laid
out. It is a complete foolproof way to get your butt kicked a different
way each and every day! I love it. And the PDF that came with the
DVD shows different ways to schedule your workout or combine different
exercises and it gives me absolutely no excuse not to swing that
bell! Andrea, great job!
- Ulrika
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The
Kettlebell Goddess Workout is the Best!
Review Rating: 10
This is one of the best DVD's that I have ever purchased. It is
so complete with workouts and instructions. The variety is terrific.
I really enjoyed Andrea in "From Russia with Tough Love",
but this is the best. Nicole and Kristann are a wonderful compliment
to her and very much inspire me to keep working to get better.
I tried to just watch the video without picking up the kettlebells,
but I couldn't. I had to jump right into a workout. I am glad I
did. First the warm up was one of the most thorough that I have
ever had. Then the exercises really hit the mark. I had such a
pump in my lower body and an overall rush all over. Then the nice
cool down made me feel like I really accomplished something. I
plan to keep on doing the workouts. Thanks for the Kettlebell Goddess
Workout. Please keep up the good work!
- Robin McGill
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