The squat exercise (with or without weights) should be a part of your workout regimen. It is an exercise that requires leg strength, core strength and good posture. It is a great exercise to build muscle and burn fat. And, squatting is something we do in every day life. Unfortunately, the squat exercise has gotten a bad rap from some people.
Some have experienced injury from doing the squat exercise because of incorrect technique or from "lifting too heavy" on the squat. I don't ever recommend this, also known as "maxing out" on the squat. You're asking for low back and knee injuries if you do.
Here is the correct way to do squats with weights:
Note: A good warm-up exercise to do before doing squats with weights is bodyweight squats (surprise!).
1. Get a tight grip with the bar resting on your shoulders. Your elbows should be pointed downward to help you keep your upper back (trapezius muscles) contracted and to keep your back from rounding.
Lift the bar off the rack, step back and stand with your feet a little wider than shoulder width. The toes should be turned slightly outward to keep undue pressure off of your knees.
2. Take a deep breath and begin the lift. Push your head and shoulders up and back (keeps the bar from coming forward) and push your hips back as you bend your knees. The bar, knees and feet should be in a vertical line.
Maintain the normal arch in your lower back at all times while keeping your posture as upright as possible (don't let your shoulders fall forward). You don't have to lower your thighs to below parallel.
3. Don't let your knees cave in at any point in the squat exercise. As you lower the bar, try to push your feet outward without actually moving them.
This will keep your knees aligned properly. Once you have lowered to the desired squat position, contract your glutes and thighs and explode upward to the starting position and exhale. You have done one repetition!
Don't substitute the squat exercise with lunges, leg presses, leg extensions, etc. Instead, supplement the squat exercise with these other leg exercises. And, there are many variations of the squat exercise such as single-leg squats, body-weight squats, dumbbell squats and prisoner squats.
If you are trying to better lean and tone your body, you must include squats in your regular exercise routine.
Mark Dilworth, BA, PES, CPT is a Certified Personal Trainer and former NCAA Division I athlete. Mark is the owner of My Fitness Hut, Her Fitness Hut and Sports Fitness Hut. Mark’s Fat Blaster Athletic Training System has been proven to give his clients the fit, sculpted and athletic-type bodies they want. Visit Mark’s main site:
Your Fitness University http://yourfitnessuniversity.com