They make you get low, they make your butt glow and they make you sweat-- if you’re doing them right! That’s right, you guessed it! SQUATS! Squats are one of my favorite exercises to tone and tighten. They don’t take up that much time at the gym and you can almost always see instant results. Squats are known as a compound exercise because you target more than one muscle at a time when doing them. Squats strengthen your lower body, improve your flexibility, and some studies say they even increase hormone release. So get down to the ground, add a weight for a little more intensity and HAVE FUN! #sarahnsays
Abs: The abdominals consist of the rectus abdominis and obliques, which are on the sides of the stomach. The entire abdominal area gets activated during a squat to generate power and keep the body stable.
Calves: The calves consist of the gastrocnemius and soleus. The main function of these muscles is plantar flexion, which takes place when you point your toes downward. When you perform a squat, the calves are recruited isometrically to keep the lower legs stable.
Glutes(gluteus maximus): The glutes are commonly referred to as the buttocks. It contains three parts -- the gluteus maximus, medius and minimus. All these segments get worked with a squat. The main function of the glutes is to extend the hips. This motion takes place when you move your thigh backward. During a squat, you perform hip extension when you rise to a standing position
Quadriceps: The quadriceps are on the front of the thighs. They extend the knees and flex the hips. Knee extension takes place when you straighten your lower leg. Hip flexion takes place when you decrease the angle between your thigh and stomach. When you lower yourself down during a squat, you perform hip flexion, and when you stand up, you perform knee extension, so the quads get worked throughout the movement.
Things to be mindful of when performing Squats
1. Place your feet a little wider than shoulder length apart
2. Keep your back as straight as possible
3. Make sure your knees don’t go past your toes when you squat
4. Engage your core
3 Creative Ways to Do Squats
