Bodyweight squat

Quadriceps and glutes.

Bodyweight squat: Top
Top
Bodyweight squat: Bottom
Bottom
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How to do it

  1. Standing, feet shoulder-width apart and toes slightly turned out.
  2. Reach your arms forward or cross your hands in front of your chest for balance.
  3. Move your hips back and down at the same time, as if sitting on a low chair.
  4. Go down until your hips are level with your knees or a little lower.
  5. Push the floor away until you're standing fully upright.

Cues

  • Weight spread over the whole foot, heels always down.
  • Knees out, in line with your toes.
  • Chest up and abs firm.

Common mistakes

  • Knees caving in.
  • Lifting your heels.
  • Rushing the reps with half the range.

If it gets easy, lower in 3 seconds and pause for 1 second at the bottom before moving to a weighted version (goblet squat).

Photos: free-exercise-db (public domain).

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