Whether your goal is to lose weight, improve your overall health or build muscle strength, squats are a simple training technique that produces tremendous results for men and women. This exercise can be performed in the gym, at home, and even outdoors. You don’t necessarily need weights or any other heavy equipment to complete this versatile exercise routine.

 

If you maintain the correct position as you bend downward and carefully move your body back up, you’ll experience the tremendous benefits of doing squats on a regular basis. Not only will your body look more toned, you feel more lean and healthier.

 

Squats are great to do whenever you have spare time to engage in a quick workout routine. Doing squats with a group of exercise enthusiasts may also motivate you to work towards your fitness goals as well as help you enjoy the experience. If you spend at least 20 minutes doing squat exercises and working out your muscles, you’ll start to notice dramatic improvement in your physical strength and joint mobility.

Squat exercises are ideal for targeting specific areas of the lower body, including tightening the buttocks and strengthening the quadriceps, hamstrings and calf muscles. With the proper form, squatting is beneficial in toning your body, improving athletic performance, and reducing body fat.

 

With each workout, form is important to reach the results that you want. It also helps to reduce the risk of injuries. Incorrect squatting may cause lingering pain and significant damage to your lower back, hips, and knees.

 

Correct Posture

When performing a squat, you must begin with the correct position of the spine. Stand with your feet a little wider than your hips and slightly move your toes outward.

 

Position your head appropriately before squatting. Your chest should be raised up as you move downward curving the back forward. If you need help balancing the movement, try bringing yours arms outward and keep them straight or bending the elbows while clasping the hands together.

 

Hip Technique

As you perform the squatting exercise, move your hips below your knees while maintaining correct knee balance. Be sure that your knees are parallel with your feet. The heels of your feet should also remain firm on the floor to successfully complete the squat exercise.

 

Incline Balance Boards

Greater muscle activation can be achieved by using a balance board, like a Tipping Beam, that guides you through the correct squatting movement. Many fitness trainers and physical therapists utilize balance boards to help their clients perfect every squat technique, so that they can achieve better results. Even professional athletes who use balance boards have noticed significant improvement in muscle strength and athletic performance.

Squats

One of the major reasons a balance board is popular with squats is that it increases muscle engagement and prevents injuries. It helps you align your body correctly, ensuring that you achieve the proper form with each squat. This simple tool will maximize your workout and help you attain success with your fitness goals.

Squats