It's not uncommon that I will get some looks when I swing a steel mace or my indian clubs at the park or my gym. I get it. They seem to be "unusual" tools in the world of fitness. In a culture where we have Barre classes, franchised gyms on every corner, and lots of focus on getting that high intensity burn from group fitness or spin classes, these tools can seem out of place, unapproachable, and to be honest, for women....too "masculine." But I'm here to say, give them a shot. Like anything that we are unfamiliar with, it can be intimidating or uninteresting. It's not until you get the tool in your hand, learn about it and actually feel the affects it has on your body that we can understand the appeal and connection to it.
My fitness journey and path as a personal trainer began as many do, with traditional weight lifting. And boy, do I still love it! It's timeless and produces results. Many of you all can see that kettlebells are my go-to for this, but barbell and free weights get their turn as well. It wasn't until I was introduced to the steel mace and indian clubs that I realized I had been missing something in my training that I didn't even know I needed. Curious by nature, I fell in love with them immediately! What I found was a supremely complimentary tool to my strength training protocols and another way to aid in resetting and recovery for my body. Being they are a skill based modality, they obviously stimulate the brain and dexterity of your body, but they also build a strength and resilience in the connective tissues, solidify grip strength (studies have shown correlations between poor grip and heart disease in women), and improve body awareness which aids in injury prevention. Plus, it's really hard to get bored with tools that have endless ways to move them!
Ok, so now you may understand a bit why these tools along with kettlebells appeals to me. But if you're a female not in the fitness profession reading this, you may still not see the advantage of using these tools based off of what I mentioned earlier. They still may seem like fitness tools for men. Yes, men are the majority that swing mace and clubs. But the tool in itself is not masculine or feminine...it's just an implement for a means. It's in the way it's used, how you move it and incorporate it that can be more desirable for females or males. Too often we make judgments based off the visuals we see instead of trying it ourself. For example, if you saw a female bodybuilder swinging clubs or a mace vs. a ballerina swinging them, you'd get two totally different opinions on the tools. With one you may think it makes your muscles "big and bulky," with the other, "long and lean." Remember, what someone's aesthetics look like has a lot more to do with a whole host of other issues than the tool.
Here's some food for thought....it really is you, the individual, and how well you move that sets the impression for how a tool comes across as graceful or rough and tough. The better you move, the more the tool will become an extension of you.
Last but not least, I encourage men and women to keep being curious about other training systems besides the status quo. It keeps fitness fresh and fun and your body and mind youthful! Give them a spin...you have nothing to lose.
Stay inspired!
-Monica
*Good resources for Indian Clubs and Steel Mace:
@Heroicsport
@Kellymanzone
Youtube: Paul Wolkowinski
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