JOIN NOW \u00bb<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\nCoaching Cues For Squats<\/h2>\n
If you have limited mobility in your hips, use a bench or box as a touch point. This will limit your range of motion. You should also look at including a short mobility\/stretching routine in your program.
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For those with limited ankle mobility, try adding weight plates underneath your heels. This will allow you to squat a little deeper and activate more muscles.<\/p>\n
Try and keep your hips back, like you\u2019re trying to sit back on a chair, as you come down with each rep. Your knees may extend past your toes at some point, and that\u2019s OK.<\/p>\n
Think about “screwing” your feet into the ground counterclockwise as you do your reps, and try to push your knees outward. This will help ensure the glutes are doing most of the work.<\/p>\n
When performing jump squats, try to land “quietly,” which will soften the impact and be easier on your knees.<\/p>\n
Common Mistakes When Doing Squats<\/h2>\n
With men, it\u2019s common to see someone using too much weight, but for women, it\u2019s quite the opposite. Many women use weights that are too light because they believe it\u2019s the best way to “tone” their muscles.<\/p>\n
In all reality, the weight you use should be sufficient to stimulate growth. Doing dozens of reps with little or no weight is fine for muscular endurance, but it won\u2019t help you get stronger and leaner.<\/p>\n
Having a “toned” look to your muscles comes from having less body fat and more lean muscle tissue; it\u2019s not about doing endless reps.<\/strong><\/p>\nAnother tendency is to try and get through your squats as quickly as possible, because, let\u2019s face it, they\u2019re tough!<\/p>\n
Instead, slow down and feel each rep<\/strong>. Avoid bouncing up from the bottom position and use momentum to make it easier.<\/p>\nIn Conclusion<\/h2>\n
The squat is one of the best, if not THE best, exercises to help you build strong, lean, and sculpted legs.<\/p>\n
As the squat is such a versatile exercise with many functional benefits, it helps reduce your chances of injury and improves your ability to perform ADLs (activities of daily living) like sitting, lifting objects, walking, and running.<\/p>\n
So, find a variation of the squat that works for you personally. Maybe it\u2019s moving quickly and getting your heart rate up with a jump squat, or maybe it\u2019s being able to lift a heavy kettlebell and doing eight intense reps with it.<\/p>\n
Lastly, one thing I\u2019ve learned over the years as a fitness coach is that if exercise seems like a chore or something you “have” to do, it will be difficult to stick with.<\/p>\n
Instead, find exercises that are fun, or at least more fun than ones you tend to avoid. If you have the mindset that exercise and training are something you “get” to do, it will be far more effective long-term.<\/p>\n
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<\/div>\n
Steve Roy<\/div>\n
Trainer, Fit Mother Project<\/div>\n
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Steve is a single father to two amazing daughters, has been involved in the fitness industry for more than 28 years, and joined the Fit Father\/Fit Mother Project team in 2023.<\/p>\n
Growing up as the prototypical \u201c98-pound weakling\u201d, my goal from an early age was to get bigger and stronger.<\/p>\n
This process ignited my passion for health and fitness and I got my first personal training certification in 1997 and started working for a local gym. I spent the next 10 years traveling the country, working in gyms, health clubs, resorts, and hotels trying to be the best trainer and coach I could be and learning from some great mentors.<\/p>\n
It’s been an amazing journey and at 54 years old, I feel better than I did 20 years ago and it all comes down to making fitness a priority. This is a principle I live by and teach every single day.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/span><\/p>\n\t\t