When you think squats, you think big men doing deadlifts or women trying to get that track star booty, right? Squats tightening things up, but they’re good to have in a workout routine for other reasons. The main reason you need these in your lineup is squats help improve balance, which you need every day. And because they work your quads and hamstrings, squats help protect your knees from injury.

Squats are about more than your legs; this exercise engages the core, glutes, and outer thighs in addition to your quads and hamstrings. Squats definitely give you the most bang for your buck. Working large muscle groups in the lower body get your whole body ready to be changed by exercise since they require so much energy. And years after your body loses its youthful tightness, the squats you did (and hopefully continue to do) will keep help you with mobility in old age.

Expecting mamas should work a few squats into their exercise routine, too, especially in week 39. Squats help speed along labor because they widen the pelvic opening.

Squats help out with just about everything. Just make sure you’re doing them right. Place your feet hip-width apart, feet parallel and toes facing straight ahead. Keep your torso straight and bend your knees until your thighs are parallel to the floor and then come up slowly. Try starting with one set of 8 to 10 and build from there. Go ahead and get down, girl. It’s good for your health.

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7 Comments

  1. I’m not pregnant, and have plenty well-developed enough glutes, quads and thighs to please most “butt men”, so I fail to see what good “widening the pelvic opening” will do me, when everything I do is aimed at lengthening, closing and tightening just that whole aperture is the name of the lower body game.

    Are you TRYING to keep us single forever? Sheesh.

  2. I’m not pregnant, and have plenty well-developed enough glutes, quads and thighs to please most “butt men”, so I fail to see what good “widening the pelvic opening” will do me, when everything I do is aimed at lengthening, closing and tightening just that whole aperture and its surrounding muscle groups. In case you haven’t noticed such things are the very name of the lower body game.

    Don’t patonize me with that self hating body crap, either. Not when the majority of women features in your (and everyone else’s) articles feature women with long, lean muscles that have been toned differently–on longer torsoed frames. One size DOES NOT fit all on this…

    Are you TRYING to keep us single (and big booty stigmatized) forever? Sheesh.

  3. Damn, Alice T…bitter much?? Sheesh.

  4. i <3 squats. i practice yoga and my current teacher makes sure to include them in our routine, by doing "chair" postures quite regularly. i also take an interval training class where squats figure hugely in as well. same teacher, so go figure lol. i was looking cross eyed initially, but was sold when i saw almost an immediate difference. i know that i will never have a huge butt, mine is flat and has always been and i'm 40 now. but since starting squats regularly i have seen what little i have lifting, which is good. the biggest benefit i get though is the increase in flexibility in my legs which in turn has improved my yoga. as an aspiring teacher i'm all abt that, so bring on the squats!

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