Delaine Ross got her Russian Kettlebell Certification (RKC) in September 2006, where she won the form and technique challenge. Soon after, she began working at Iron Core, Inc., a small studio-style kettlebell gym in La Jolla, CA, training clients one-on-one and teaching workshops and group classes. In October 2007, Delaine moved back to Atlanta to open Condition Kettlebell Gym and went on to get her RKC II in June 2009. Delaine is also a Z-Health practitioner – a system that focuses on enhancing performance and staying pain and injury free through targeted joint mobility. Summer 2007 was Delaine’s first season as a Fitness Competitor and she placed 4th overall in the Fitness America-Southern California show, competed in the Fitness Universe show in June 2008 and won second place in the Fitness America- Dixie show in September 2009. Delaine is excited to use her experience and expertise to spread kettlebell training and its benefits to people who may not have access to an RKC or kettlebell gym and want to train at home.
“A few years ago when I was living in Atlanta after graduating from Georgia Tech, I had a flexible outside sales job and a long distance relationship. That combination meant that there was a lot of free time that I needed to fill. I chose to occupy my free time with frequent trips to the gym. I quickly became addicted and found myself spending 2 hours a day, 6 days a week in the gym. That’s TWELVE HOURS of gym time each week. I thought that I had to go that often to get enough cardio training, plus strength and flexibility training.
“Fast forward and I am living in San Diego, working 55 hours a week and trying to balance life and job that I didn’t like at all. Needless to say, no matter how much I rearranged my schedule, I didn’t have the 12 hours that I was used to spending at the gym anymore. That is when I heard a local radio station talk about a gym called Iron Core that used these things called ‘kettlebells.’ According to the people interviewed, kettlebells dramatically decreased your time in the gym since the workouts were cardio, strength and flexibility all at the same time. It was too good to be true. I had to check it out for myself.
“So, I went down on a Saturday morning for a ‘trial class’ and was amazed at what I discovered. The workout was intense and very different from what I was used to. It was some serious cardio without the boredom of the ‘hamster wheel’ (AKA the treadmill) and strength training without the monotony of isolated repetitions such as bicep curls. It was strength stretching without the endless poses of yoga. The workout was not only comprehensive and intense, but it was a lot of fun!
“I went from going to the gym 12 times a week, to taking three 45 minute classes, and yet somehow I found my strength and body composition improving. I wasn’t getting those bulky, beefy muscles that you would think would accompany strength gains, but was getting long, lean lines and definition – all while spending 1/3 of the time in the gym!
“I knew within a month that I wanted to be certified to teach and be able to share kettlebells with others. So, I opened Condition Kettlebell Gym in October 2007 and now started this website to help you give kettlebells a try. You, too, can find a challenging workout that is also exciting and fun.”
- Delaine Ross, RKC II, Z-Health Level 1
