The basic squat is a functional exercise, meaning it’s a real-life activity. You perform this move countless times throughout the day as you go from sitting to standing and back again.
Then why, if you do it all day long, should you put it in your workout? Well, during the day you’re just getting from point A to point B. A workout that includes squats gives you the opportunity to focus on muscle control and form. This translates into a healthier, stronger you.
Do these squats barefoot so you can monitor foot position and better engage the muscles in your feet. Your feet provide a stable base for your squats.
Some key pointers for this exercise:
- Feet point forward.
- Weight presses through the heels as you squat down and back.
- Don’t drop your rear end below knee level.
- Keep the chest lifted.
- Shoulders are down and relaxed.
- Back is flat or slightly concave, not rounded forward.
Two ways to increase the intensity.
- Go slower and pause at the lowest point of your squat.
- Advanced – add plyometrics (a controlled jump with a soft landing).
Bored? Find some good medium tempo music to listen to as you do these squats. Take the time to do these now and you’ll thank yourself later. Put it this way – you may not be doing extreme sports at the age of 90, but you’ll still want to get up and down out of your chair without assistance.
Stay fit!
