Squats

My favourite exercise – The SQUAT

My favourite exercise is by far a squat, not only is a squat a fantastic lower body workout, there are so many variations, plus you can perform this exercise anywhere and in any location.

A squat works your glutes, hips, thighs and core.  In one single exercise you are working so many major muscle groups, it’s easy to see why I love them so much. You can simply squat with your body weight or add weights for more resistance. 

Squats are such a good toning exercise, they really target your hips, thighs and calf muscles. Slowing down the squat you can make the squat even more intense and work your body harder. It also lifts and shapes your glutes as well. To really ensure you are working your glutes it’s important to squeeze your glutes as you come up from the squat.

While performing the squat you are also engaging your abdominals and core muscles, as you need them to help stabilise yourself when lowering and coming up from the squat.

The different variations I love to include in my workouts are:

• Standard squat 
• Pulses
• Jumps
• Press
• Pulse and jump.
• Even forward squat jumps are great to include in your workout.

If you are a beginner starting out, a squat maybe be tricky. That’s ok, start with a glute bridge. Lay on your back, knees up, feet flat on the floor and raise your glutes through your hips off the floor, pushing your weight through your heels. It’s a great way to start and you can progress to a static body weight squat. As you get stronger, adding in a pulse and even a squat jump.

Honestly, such a great exercise to be doing on a daily basis. Great results and you will definitely raise a sweat.

Big Love,