If you’re looking for the most efficient way to kick-start your muscle growth and increase your fitness level, then look no further than the squat. They should be the number 1 exercise in everyone’s routine, and for many good reasons. Squats are a full-body compound move that mainly target the quads, glutes, and hamstrings. They also the core, and posterior chain muscles. So besides these obvious reasons, why else should you do squats?
6 Reasons to do Squats
1. Squat are a great exercise for improving posture because with a stronger core, you’ll be standing up straighter. Improved posture, results in boosted confidence!
2. You will burn more fat due to the increased muscle mass. Think about it if you have more muscle, you’ll be burning more calories than you normally would!
3. Build, sculpt, and tone your butt, legs, and abs. This may spark the interest of many women as these are the majority of their problem areas. Despite the popular belief that cardio is the key to having nice tone bodies, it does little compared to the squat. By doing squats you are building the muscles in your legs and butt while burning off the fat, essentially accentuating your beautiful curves!
4. Squats are the most functional and versatile exercise. Believe it or not, they are used in everyday situations. Think about when you go down to lift something from the ground, you’re squatting!
5. Another benefit of squats is that they help to improve balance and mobility. Think about this, if your core and legs are stronger, you have improved your brain-muscle connection. This extra coordination makes you more stable and less likely to fall, resulting in injuries with age.
6. Improved circulation is another benefit of the squat. Since squats target the largest muscle groups in the body, wouldn’t it make sense that it helps circulate blood and nutrients to the tissues and organs. This improved circulation also aids in waste removal.
Now that you know why squats are important, let’s focus on how to properly perform a squat.
How to Do a Proper Squat
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart
- Tighten your core while keeping your back in a neutral position and your head straight forward.
- Slowly bend down as if you’re going to sit into a chair. Continue bending your knees and ankles until your knees and thigh make a 90 degree angle.
- Return to the starting position; repeat.
Now that you know how to do a basic squat, let’s have some fun. Here are the top 10 Squat Variations to try!
