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For a detailed profile you can send a request to
reflectmagazine@gmail.com or call Ayanda at 0815131900
--
A.P.TOM @ReflectSA

Reflect SA's beauty, Ivanilde Melembe stands a chance of being crowned Miss TUT!

Another Reflect SA beauty out to make it big in modelling, Rose as we normally call her also known as Ivanilde Melembe, a South African born beauty, born by Mozambican nationals. She grew up in the South of Johannesburg's Ennerdale. She has been selected as one of the final shortlisted models who stand a chance of being crowned👑 as Miss Tshwane university 🎓 of Technology.

The selection process started in March, in April all who made top 100 were divided into groups of ten's,  given tasks like greening the environment,  convincing sponsors,  doing community services.
After a strict process of selection Evanilde Melembe has made it to the selection of 20 young ladies and ten young man who stand a chance of being crowned Mr&Miss TUT 2016.

As Reflect SA we stand behind Rose, she has been a natural in modelling, since she became part of Reflect SA models, she has done photo 📷 shoots, fashion shows' with us.We know and reflect on her humble beginnings together with many others who we have natured and supported their humble beginnings in modeling, the likes of Katlego Ncala now on YO TV, Thato Makgaka a Soweto TV 📺 second princess 👸 2013, now known as DJ shoddy, and many more names now in the media,Busi Binca, Dj Nathi just to mention a few.

I am writing confidently knowing that the next Miss South Africa will be a Reflect SA models babe, all the crowning's lead to greater crowning

Here @Reflect SA, naturing, celebrating and recognising talent in modeling has been one of our strengths since 2012.

#WE REFLECT ON YOU ROSE, IVANILDE MELEMBE ON YOUR JOURNEY OF BEING CROWNED MISS TUT 2016!

The finals Are on the 29th October  TuT Soshanguve Campus Gencor hall.

Check out "Uyandizonda" by Ayanda AZA

https://www.reverbnation.com/ayandaaza/song/23665223-uyandizonda

1976 youth VS 2016 youth Spirit and culture

> There is no culture with out a spirit , there is no spirit without a culture. It is Forty years since the youth  of 1976 embarked on a struggle for freedom and, many people lost their lives for the freedom we enjoy today.
>
> Now more than two decades since freedom was birthed in South Africa.
> There is a culture of protesting in South Africa, this culture has a foundation which achieved productive results in 1976, results of which we are all witnessing and enjoying, if not fully enjoying the freedom, at least we all still commemorate their struggle.
>
> We must be missing the spirit behind the productive strategy to protest, which differentiate today's protest from that of 1976 youth uprising.
>
> our  culture of protest to demand better services from the government is robbing us of services that we could be benefiting from, it looks like we need a productive strategy to embark on productive protest.
> It also shouldn't be a burden to the public to try receive services from the government. The president, minister of communications,  mayors, the public and all affected stakeholders, need to come up with a productive strategy to allow the public to receive needed services when they need them with out violence. We should be operating within a freedom driven environment,l believe. A spirit of freedom should be guiding us.  This was a a challenge met by the 1976 youth on a struggle for freedom   it was different with them, they had to push boundaries of oppression in order to operate in freedom.
>
> There is a great need to understand the spirit behind the culture that we  choose to follow. We are raised within different cultures, some cultures that we become part of, we  adopt as part of social influence,driven by the environments or communities within our surroundings.
> Celebrating cultural influences has become a norm, especially if we relate and share the benefits of that culture.
>
> We need to understand and learn what produces successful people and productive situations. spirituality needs to be natured everyday, cultures that focus and put effort on their spiritual growth, they achieve better  results of what they want to achieve. 
>
> > Following a culture , we need to understand the spirit behind the culture that we follow, in order to be able to achieve our expected results.
>
> > I always wonder what always takes place before the protests that take place all around SA, most of them end up on headlines for wrong reasons, we hardly hear about how they have achieved their mandate of embarking on a protest, instead we hear of how much damage and violence they have caused, instead of the expected outcomes. The fees must fall protest, at least archived some positive outcomes, how ever some instances of torching emerged. We must  be missing the spirit behind the protest in 1976.
>
> What is it that goes on to motivate violence. One thing that is clear about it is that people are not driven by one spirit of archiving a productive outcome.
>
> > most protests demand services, but always end up infamous for destroying government property, perhaps the spirit of demanding should be blamed for destroying and violence.
>
> Our education system should revolve around spirituality.  Bible  should be taught at an early age at schools. Other communities do this well, teaching children their spirituality at an early age.
>
> The Bible studies would motivate our communities spirituality and
> motivate a common mandate that would bring peace and  produce productive outcomes.
>
> The moment you demand something, you simple want it by force, that leads to violence, way before you even start demanding.
>
> What about seeking a service or coming up with a different word than to 'demand'.
>
> > I keep Wondering Is there common strategy agreed upon before embarking on a protest, how do youth plan or  strategize to reach their goals and objectives of a protest, this should be monitored well, by leaders; I believe many would agree with me, that strategy is not just random ideas from certain people's minds who call them selves leaders.
>
> > It is written the kingdom of god sufferers violence and   the violent takes it by force, but I believe the spirit behind the kingdom of god brings results of peace, I believe more than anything else the spirit of god is love, it sets free, from bondage, it is justice, it liberates the captive, one needs to understand the benefits of the spirit before following it's culture. Which is why our education system should involve spirituality.
>
> > Before showing off, your culture you should be proud of the spirit that drives that culture, the spirit should have benefits which will make your joy full.
>
> >In 1976  The intention was to protest, the spirit behind it was freedom, how ever that freedom did not come cheap, people lost their lives for freedom.
>
> > Today we loose properties that are suppose to be of service and better our lives, when today's youth protest, the intention I believe is to demand better services, but what is the spirit behind the protest?.
>
> > the spirit behind the  protest in 1976 was freedom, hence we have freedom now, protest seems to be the only way trusted to move the government to respond to the publics needs here in South  Africa,  in 1976, I believe it worked because the environment then was completely different to ours now, they had to protest to get government attention. Now it should be easy to communicate to the government because the idea is we are no longer oppressed. Communication lines to the public should be transparent not just as an idea in our minds but should be a planned and well implemented strategy, given first priority by the government. Is the protest in 1976 was to demand attention from the government because of an oppressed community, we are not oppressed now, we should be allowed to live as not oppressed.
>
> > I believe before going on a protest we should have a spirit that drives us to archive positive results at the end, and the government of freedom should also make this easy to achieve
>
> If the spirit behind a protest is anger and violence, the results will destroy us and leave no legacy for the next generation.
>
> > The governments' communication lines with the public should be open in practice not just in speech, be more accessible, then maybe protesting with violence demanding services wouldn't even be a necessary means of communication, getting the governments attention to offer services to it's people, the 'public'.
>
> > If the culture of protesting is left to be driven by violence and displaying anger left to persist in our country, the only people being robbed of a more benefitting chance of freedom and a bright future is the next generation.
>
> > They'll have nothing to pride themselves of us, instead they'll have a burden to rebuild what we have destroyed, which we could have preserved.
>
> > The youth of 1976 fought for their subject of choice, and for our freedom too. 
>
> > We need to learn to choose our battles well, put a spirit of winning and building a legacy for the next generation, not destroy, and deprive them a sense of pride and a possible much better future than ours, just like the youth uprising had us in mind let us not be selfish to the next generation they depend on us being strong for them spiritually as the future  exist on the spiritual realm .
>
> > what seems to have changed since the youth of 1976 and today's youth, is the spirit behind the protests,in 1976 the spirit that drove, the youth to protest did not get the youth destroy Health institutes in Soweto, if  they did we would have been deprived of an opportunity to know institutes, like Baragwanath hospital, it would have been touched. I believe if their protest was not driven by the spirit of freedom; places like the stadiums, would have been destroyed during the protest.
>
> > This gives a clear idea of how the youth of 1976 respected places that provided service. They protected what is of good service to the public. They werw more spiritual and passionate about achieving freedom.
>
> Common question is, What causes the youth today, not to protect places of public service, like the clinics, why are we destroying what is of help to us just because we need what we do not yet have.
>
> Youth of 1976 fought against systems that deprived them freedom, not destroying places of service. We need to learn from them how to choose our battles well .
>
> We need to ask our selves is it the government system of providing services to the public, that we are not satisfied with or is it the places of public service that we destroy which we are not satisfied of?.
>
> Let's not kill, steal and destroy  the future and freedom of the next generation.
>
> Picture of poster
> From kalamu.com Mandela picture
>
> Picture of a burnt book
> From news24

1979 youth VS 2016 youth Spirit and culture

There is no culture with out a spirit , there is no spirit without a culture. It is Forty years since the youth  of 1976 embarked on a struggle for freedom and, many people lost their lives for the freedom we enjoy today.

Now more than two decades since freedom was birthed in South Africa.
There is a culture of protesting in South Africa, this culture has a foundation which achieved productive results in 1976, results of which we are all witnessing and enjoying, if not fully enjoying the freedom, at least we all still commemorate their struggle.

We must be missing the spirit behind the productive strategy to protest, which differentiate today's protest from that of 1976 youth uprising.

our  culture of protest to demand better services from the government is robbing us of services that we could be benefiting from, it looks like we need a productive strategy to embark on productive protest.
It also shouldn't be a burden to the public to try receive services from the government. The president, minister of communications,  mayors, the public and all affected stakeholders, need to come up with a productive strategy to allow the public to receive needed services when they need them with out violence. We should be operating within a freedom driven environment,l believe. A spirit of freedom should be guiding us.  This was a a challenge met by the 1976 youth on a struggle for freedom   it was different with them, they had to push boundaries of oppression in order to operate in freedom.

There is a great need to understand the spirit behind the culture that we  choose to follow. We are raised within different cultures, some cultures that we become part of, we  adopt as part of social influence,driven by the environments or communities within our surroundings.
Celebrating cultural influences has become a norm, especially if we relate and share the benefits of that culture.

We need to understand and learn what produces successful people and productive situations. spirituality needs to be natured everyday, cultures that focus and put effort on their spiritual growth, they achieve better  results of what they want to achieve. 

> Following a culture , we need to understand the spirit behind the culture that we follow, in order to be able to achieve our expected results.

> I always wonder what always takes place before the protests that take place all around SA, most of them end up on headlines for wrong reasons, we hardly hear about how they have achieved their mandate of embarking on a protest, instead we hear of how much damage and violence they have caused, instead of the expected outcomes. The fees must fall protest, at least archived some positive outcomes, how ever some instances of torching emerged. We must  be missing the spirit behind the protest in 1976.

What is it that goes on to motivate violence. One thing that is clear about it is that people are not driven by one spirit of archiving a productive outcome.

> most protests demand services, but always end up infamous for destroying government property, perhaps the spirit of demanding should be blamed for destroying and violence.

Our education system should revolve around spirituality.  Bible  should be taught at an early age at schools. Other communities do this well, teaching children their spirituality at an early age.

The Bible studies would motivate our communities spirituality and
motivate a common mandate that would bring peace and  produce productive outcomes.

The moment you demand something, you simple want it by force, that leads to violence, way before you even start demanding.

What about seeking a service or coming up with a different word than to 'demand'.

> I keep Wondering Is there common strategy agreed upon before embarking on a protest, how do youth plan or  strategize to reach their goals and objectives of a protest, this should be monitored well, by leaders; I believe many would agree with me, that strategy is not just random ideas from certain people's minds who call them selves leaders.

> It is written the kingdom of god sufferers violence and   the violent takes it by force, but I believe the spirit behind the kingdom of god brings results of peace, I believe more than anything else the spirit of god is love, it sets free, from bondage, it is justice, it liberates the captive, one needs to understand the benefits of the spirit before following it's culture. Which is why our education system should involve spirituality.

> Before showing off, your culture you should be proud of the spirit that drives that culture, the spirit should have benefits which will make your joy full.

>In 1976  The intention was to protest, the spirit behind it was freedom, how ever that freedom did not come cheap, people lost their lives for freedom.

> Today we loose properties that are suppose to be of service and better our lives, when today's youth protest, the intention I believe is to demand better services, but what is the spirit behind the protest?.

> the spirit behind the  protest in 1976 was freedom, hence we have freedom now, protest seems to be the only way trusted to move the government to respond to the publics needs here in South  Africa,  in 1976, I believe it worked because the environment then was completely different to ours now, they had to protest to get government attention. Now it should be easy to communicate to the government because the idea is we are no longer oppressed. Communication lines to the public should be transparent not just as an idea in our minds but should be a planned and well implemented strategy, given first priority by the government. Is the protest in 1976 was to demand attention from the government because of an oppressed community, we are not oppressed now, we should be allowed to live as not oppressed.

> I believe before going on a protest we should have a spirit that drives us to archive positive results at the end, and the government of freedom should also make this easy to achieve

If the spirit behind a protest is anger and violence, the results will destroy us and leave no legacy for the next generation.

> The governments' communication lines with the public should be open in practice not just in speech, be more accessible, then maybe protesting with violence demanding services wouldn't even be a necessary means of communication, getting the governments attention to offer services to it's people, the 'public'.

> If the culture of protesting is left to be driven by violence and displaying anger left to persist in our country, the only people being robbed of a more benefitting chance of freedom and a bright future is the next generation.

> They'll have nothing to pride themselves of us, instead they'll have a burden to rebuild what we have destroyed, which we could have preserved.

> The youth of 1976 fought for their subject of choice, and for our freedom too. 

> We need to learn to choose our battles well, put a spirit of winning and building a legacy for the next generation, not destroy, and deprive them a sense of pride and a possible much better future than ours, just like the youth uprising had us in mind let us not be selfish to the next generation they depend on us being strong for them spiritually as the future  exist on the spiritual realm .

> what seems to have changed since the youth of 1976 and today's youth, is the spirit behind the protests,in 1976 the spirit that drove, the youth to protest did not get the youth destroy Health institutes in Soweto, if  they did we would have been deprived of an opportunity to know institutes, like Baragwanath hospital, it would have been touched. I believe if their protest was not driven by the spirit of freedom; places like the stadiums, would have been destroyed during the protest.

> This gives a clear idea of how the youth of 1976 respected places that provided service. They protected what is of good service to the public. They werw more spiritual and passionate about achieving freedom.

Common question is, What causes the youth today, not to protect places of public service, like the clinics, why are we destroying what is of help to us just because we need what we do not yet have.

Youth of 1976 fought against systems that deprived them freedom, not destroying places of service. We need to learn from them how to choose our battles well .

We need to ask our selves is it the government system of providing services to the public, that we are not satisfied with or is it the places of public service that we destroy which we are not satisfied of?.

Let's not kill, steal and destroy  the future and freedom of the next generation.

Picture of poster
From kalamu.com Mandela picture

Picture of a burnt book
From news24

SA's artists are capable of living above poverty line, Radios should do something about it.

It is great inspiration to see young people in SA's media industry making enough money to live large right here on mzansi grounds, without skipping the borders, one would think less of how South African artists especially musicians could make enough money that complements their success in being popular with their sounds.

Now it really shows that as long as the radio stations could be at least more transparent on listing artists music on their play lists, poverty would be the thing of the past. I can not count how many albums I have personally submitted on SABC's radios but you just never hear your music . I find this very much discouraging I don't think if one person thinks that they don't  like your music that should be enough not to give chance for the listeners to have a say on either they would love to hear the sound more or not.

After all radios are for satisfying the listener not the other way around.
It is just not fare that many talented musicians are never heard of because of this limitation  trap on listing music on radio.
It shouldn't be portrayed as if success in media is for the limited few.

If it is that other musicians do not follow the rite procedure to list their music, why is the procedure only transparent as far as submitting your copies on SABC music library, submitting on radios for sampling, you do that a year goes by without your music being sampled. As if that is enough you go to radio stations ask to submit your copy for awards, 'they ask you are you listed?' but would never tell you how.

From there you find people asking you to pay them money for listing you on radio. Radios should help music artists to live above poverty line by listing artists on their play lists, this limits the growth of many artists

With the new support for SA's music to be played more on radios, it would help a great deal to give every one a chance even those who never get to hit it on the nail, the know how of listing your music on radios.

Congratulations to those who have been fortunate to have a future out of their artistic  fortunes, it really shows that south Africans are talented enough to live above poverty line and live a successful life

Some of our SA's artists from TV personalities, soccer stars and musicians who serve as inspiration to many of us, by living their dreams and manage to live a good life. Seeing young artists investing in property before they turn 30 is really a way that should be encouraged by giving artists a transparent help to get there, talent alone is never enough so as toiling on hard work alone only to find a brick wall instead of the door of opportunity. Those who hold keys to open doors should do just that and stop blocking the way then growth would be recognised.
XoXo

Ayanda Tom @ReflectSA

Pic source: www.womensuccess

Kat Ncala Makes it as new Yo TV presenter on SABC1

Thank you for all your votes, to every one who cast their votes in favour of the talented beautiful Katlego Ncala. As most of us, if not all watched her debut on YO TV this past Monday, I have no doubts that yall have no regrets to have voted her, she is a fun spirited young lady.

Be Eco friendly in your beauty, celebrate EARTH DAY!.

In celebrating earth day we also love beauties who every day use eco friendly skin products, as per Hollywood life's celebrity pick Shailene Woodley, who every day uses only eco friendly products to keep her beautiful skin glow.

We celebrate Earth day, knowing that we also can play our part in being eco friendly, in simple ways.

We have however found you some simple ways to help you keep your glow, which will not need you to spend more than you already have. You can do this by just using what you already have in the house. To be more eco friendly you can check out eco friendly products the next time you go buy your beauty products.

"Beauty Bloggers Share 19 Skincare Secrets You May Not Know".

"Skincare emergency? Feeling a bit … blah and less than luminous lately? Sometimes a little tweak in your skincare routine is all you need to get glowy skin".

"Beauty bloggers have picked up the best skincare tips of makeup artists, models, beauty editors, and other skincare experts. Chances are that we've tried that new cream you're so excited about and can tell you if that handheld device really did help heal a blemish".

19 Skincare Tips You Didn't Know

From why you do need an eye cream to blemish fighting tips you didn't think of, here are 19 skincare tips to make you glow!

Control Oily Skin with a Universal Soap

"Black African Soap can be purchased at Farmer's Markets and even off of eBay. This cheap soap is all natural and while it looks like clumps of dirt, it is easy to use and is gentle enough to be used every day. Used in replacement of your daily face cleanser, Black African Soap will give you a face that is squeaky clean and cut down on both oil and acne. You can even use it on your whole body."

Sun-Kissed Legs Made Simple

"If you don't have time to book a self-tanning session, spike lotion with bronzer. Mix a few pumps of liquid bronzer with regular body lotion. Rub it over legs for a gradual dose of sexy, beachy color."

Easy and Gentle Lip Exfoliation

"Chapped lips need gentle exfoliation to effectively treat and remove dried skin. Take a little Vaseline or petroleum jelly on a soft child's toothbrush and gently scrub in circular motions to remove old skin and moisturize at the same time. If a toothbrush isn't handy try a little raw sugar for the scrubbing action."

How to Make Creme de la Mer a Great Value

"Creme de la Mer is fabulous, but it is also expensive. Use it sparingly in ways you haven't thought of though and it can actually be a good value! Creme de la Mer tips include using it as an eye cream or brow conditioner."

The Single Best Way To Prevent Crow's Feet

"Creams and serums are terrific, but the best way to prevent Crow's Feet is to wear large, fashionable sunglasses as often as possible! The frames not only look glamorous, but actually block the sun from toasting you delicate undereye area. Be sure they offer UV protection!"

Face Flakey? Try Dandruff Shampoo

"There are a lot of reason to have the dry flakies near your nose, and theleast likely is actually the dry skin that most of us blame.  It could be anything from facial dandruff (seborrheic dermatitis) to rosacea to a fungal infection!  Instead of scrubbing the area (which usually only irritates the situation) or piling on moisturizer, try your dandruff shampoo.  A pea sized amount while you're in the shower is often long enough to help the situation.  You'll be surprised how often this takes care of the problem!"

Could Your Skin Use A Boost?

"Is your skin looking dull and lackluster? An at-home peel can remove dull surface cells and help to even and brighten skin tone. I love using peels because the results are fast and it is gentle enough to use once a week!"

Pore Strip Your Entire Face with Stuff From Your Kitchen

"I used to cover my face with expensive pore strips, but then I found a recipe for a DIY Pore Stripping Mask which uses only plain gelatin and a little milk. Mix them up, heat it for about 10 seconds in the microwave and apply. Once it has dried you peel it off, andeverything comes out of your pores as well. Genius!"

The First Step to Banish Acne

"From full blown acne to just a blemish now and again, you have the first step in getting rid of it right in your linen closet! Change your pillowcase EVERY night. Hair products, oil, leftover makeup and more soil your pillow, why would you want to lay your face on that? If you keep a fresh stack near your bed (so you don't have an excuse not to do it) you'll be one step closer to clear skin."

Is Eye Cream Necessary?

"Do you really need an eye cream? Yes, you really do. In a pinch it is fine to use your face cream, but the skin in this area is thinner and absorbs active ingredients more readily (so that retinoid is more likely to irritate your under eye area), and the skin here has different needs as well. Do yourself a favor and use a separate cream here!"

Consider LED Light Therapy For Your Skin

"Home LED Light Devices are a powerful, high tech way to treat skin conditions and tackle aging with good success rates. Try blue light for acne and red for anti aging."

Shorten the Lifespan of a Pimple

"To save time when trying to cover a large pimple and shave some time off of the lifespan of it, take a few minutes to apply ice. Wrap a cube in a washcloth and hold it against the pimple for 1 minute. The ice will reduce the inflammation and redness, making it much easier to hide. Want to get really fancy? Make ice cubes out of green tea for extra healing benefits!"

Skip the Expensive Body Scrubs

"It's easy to make your own with ingredients found right in your kitchen. Mix one cup of brown sugar with enough olive oil to make a thick paste. Take the mixture to the tub and scrub it in circular motions all over. The simple-to make scrub helps rid skin of dead cells while the oil leaves skin extra soft."

Exfoliate Daily Without Buying A Pricey Spinning Gadget

"Try picking up a microfiber washcloth at your local drugstore or beauty website. These cloths can grip the skin in ways a normal washcloth can not and really remove dead skin cells, leaving your face looking fresh!"

Run Out of Shaving Cream?

"Do double duty by coating legs with hair conditioner. It not only softens the hair making it easier to shave, it leaves legs super soft and silky."

Reapply Your Sunscreen

"Your sunscreen doesn't last all day, it needs to be reapplied every 2 hours while you're in the sun or after swimming. Reapplying sunscreen over your makeup can be tricky, resulting in a muddy mess. On days that I'll be reapplying, I like to use waterproof makeup and as little as possible. Use a chemical sunscreen rather than a physical sunscreen and pat the sunscreen on to small areas of your face, don't rub!"

Chose the Best Home Laser Hair Removal Device

"The Tria and the Flash and Go are the two top home laser hair removal devices. A Tria and Flash 'n Go Comparison shows them to be almost equal in effectiveness, but the Flash and go can also be used on facial hair. Removing your hair at home can be a huge time saver!"

Great Lip Balm

"Say goodbye to chapped lips forever with Lansinoh Lanolin Nipple Cream. This balm for nursing mothers is the best lip balm ever. All other lip balms pale in comparison to this boob cream that will have even the most chapped and cracked lips looking soft and supple in no time and keep them that way."

http://

Hi All please help our Princess Katalina❤👑 she made Top 15 for the YOTV presenter search :

Twitter -
Go to @YoTvLive and Retweet the YOTV presenters Search post and quote with #Kat4YoTv

Facebook-
Please go to the YOTV presenters post and comment #Kat4YoTv please also share the post and spread the hashtag.

Instagram-
https://instagram.com/p/BD0Kv3XDfbL/ that is the link please link and comment #Kat4YoTv

Thank you 👑❤✨@ReflectSA

A 2016 look at how are the BOYS?

It is time to finally give the guys a front row, we've been all about HOW are the girls? the entire festive season, especially this side of Africa in MZANSI.

Here at Reflect SA have done our bit in making our man feel like 'thee' man for us this 2016.
Our editor has come across this men's seasonal collection by H&M chosen by David Beckham.

In case you need some tips on how to choose your new collection this year look no further but consider the tips
On these pics, then definitely you'll be taking the front row when every one want's to know how are the boys this 2016.

I GUESS THE BOYS ARE GREAT!
A.p.Zigana @ReflectSA

____________________________________________________________
South Africas premier free email service - www.webmail.co.za

Absolute workout for Beginners like me!

Looking good involves a level of sacrifice of your time, in doing so this spring season as you work out your beauty routine to look your best this December , do consider to follow these below workout tips by AMY ROBERTS of R29.

@ReflectSA models "stills motivates Beauty, Style & Culture". Ayanda Tom

30-Day Kettlebell Challenge For The Absolute Beginner

AMY ROBERTS



The kettlebell looks something like a cross between your grandma's purse and an old-fashioned teapot, but it's been getting a lot of attention at gyms these days — and not just for its often candy-colored paint job. "Using a kettlebell can be one of the most efficient ways to train," says Lauren Brooks, a southern California-based certified kettlebell coach and owner of On the Edge Fitness. "It allows you to get very strong and conditioned, all within one workout."

The secret is its unique displacement of weight, which is ideal for being swung dynamically, rather than pulled or pushed against gravity, like dumbbells. The result is a more metabolic (read: calorie-torching) workout, often in less time than a traditional weight-training session. "It also shapes the butt very nicely and helps keep the abs strong!" Brooks adds. "Who doesn't want that?"

The aim of this monthlong challenge is to get you swinging a kettlebell both safely and effectively. The first lesson: It's not about the arms. "You actually use the hips, glutes, and abs to power the movement," says Brooks. "Once those posterior chain muscles are activated all at once, the arms simply help guide the movement." To get you there, you must hinge and deadlift before you swing — all of which are explained in detail below.

You'll need a kettlebell in the 15- to 20-pound (or 12- to 16-kilogram) range. You may find that you'll want to increase the weight of your kettlebell as you get stronger, which Brooks encourages. However, don't do it on a day when your reps are also increasing (for example, don't do it on Day 18, wait for Day 19).

Even after the first few days when you're learning, you'll start every workout with a set of hip hinges to remind your body of the proper motion and to warm up. "I also like to add a 30-second plank to the warm-up, to ensure muscle activation throughout the abs, glutes, and quads," Brooks says. "This really sets people up for success with the top of the kettlebell swing, because a plank is the top of a swing, just reoriented so you're on your feet."

On days when you're doing more than one set (x2 or x3), take a 30- to 60-second rest between sets. The day after a Rest Day will be more intense than the previous workout, so definitely don't skip those breaks — they're essential to letting your muscles recover.

Hip Hinge

This exercise teaches your body to get the power for the swing from the glutes and hamstrings. Start with your feet grounded on the floor about hip-width apart. Place your fingertips on your hip bones. With your hands, push your hips toward the wall behind you, allowing your body to fold at the waist and the knees to bend slightly. Your butt should go straight back—not down, as it would in a squat. "Feel your hamstrings (the backs of your thighs) stretch out," Brooks says. "To keep the chest from collapsing, train your gaze on a spot about 10 feet in front of you on the horizon." Now, clench your glutes to push your hips back forward so you're standing tall. If you're having trouble getting the hips to go back smoothly, try this trick: Stand about 10 inches from a wall and actually bump it with your tush as you hinge (kinda like you're knocking a door shut behind you).
PHOTOGRAPHED BY JAMES FARRELL.

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Kettlebell Deadlift
Once you've got the hip hinge down, it's time to add some weight. Place your kettlebell on the ground between your feet. Hip hinge down, bending your knees just enough so you can grab the handle in both hands, arms long in front of you. Take care not to let your chest drop, despite the added weight — keep your eyes up on the horizon. Squeeze the butt muscles to come back to your standing position. Between reps, don't bring the kettlebell all the way to the ground. You should feel more intensity in the booty thanks to the heft of the kettlebell. This is what they mean when they say to lift with your legs, not your back!
PHOTOGRAPHED BY JAMES FARRELL.


Kettlebell Swing
OK, now it's time to get flying. Place the kettlebell between your feet about six inches in front of your toes. Hip-hinge down to touch the handle with your fingers and grasp it as you lean the kettlebell in toward you, so it's teetering on its back edge. With chest still proud, inhale and hike the kettlebell up between your legs (think "thumbs to bum") then quickly reverse direction, exhaling and thrusting your hips forward so the kettlebell sails out in front of you. Your arms will be fully extended, with hands ending up somewhere between belly-button and chest height, and you should be standing tall at the top of the swing. Inhale as your arms come down and you do another hinge, exhale as you thrust forward to keep swinging. When it comes time to stop, do so carefully when the bell is at its lowest point by not hip-thrusting the bell forward, instead letting it float out and come to rest on the ground where it begin.
















A.p.Zigana @ReflectSA

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