I recently had someone ask me why I place such an emphasis on squat form. Squats are a highly effective exercise because they engage multiple muscle groups simultaneously, making them a great exercise for building strength, power, and endurance. Squats are also a functional movement that mimic movements we perform in everyday life, such as sitting down and standing up. By including squats in your fitness routine, you can improve your overall fitness and functional movement abilities, as well as prevent injury and promote long-term health.
Here are some reasons why squats are good for you:
Work multiple muscle groups: Squats are considered a compound exercise because they work multiple muscle groups at once. The primary muscles worked during squats are the quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes. Additionally, squats engage the core, lower back, and calf muscles to some extent. Regularly performing squats can help increase strength and muscle mass in these areas. Working multiple muscle groups at once helps increase overall strength and muscle mass.
Build strength and muscle mass: Squats are a strength training exercise that can help increase muscle mass and overall strength. This is because they work multiple muscle groups and require a high amount of effort and energy output. When you perform squats, your muscles are under a lot of tension, which causes them to break down and rebuild stronger during the recovery process.
Improve mobility and flexibility: Squats require a good range of motion in the hips, knees, and ankles, which can help improve mobility and flexibility in these areas. Regularly performing squats can help increase your range of motion in these joints, which can make everyday activities easier.
Enhance functional movement: Squats mimic movements we do in everyday life, like sitting down and standing up, making them a functional exercise. By improving our ability to perform these movements, squats can help us move more easily and safely in our daily lives.
Boost calorie burn: Squats are a compound exercise that uses multiple muscle groups, so they burn more calories than isolation exercises, which only work one muscle group. This makes squats an effective exercise for burning calories and losing weight.
Can be done without equipment: Squats can be done with or without weights, making them a versatile exercise that can be done anywhere without equipment. Bodyweight squats are a great option for beginners or those who don't have access to gym equipment.
Boosts Athletic Performance: Squats help to build strength and power in the lower body, which can improve athletic performance in a range of activities including running, jumping, and lifting.
It's important to perform squats with proper form to avoid injury and get the most benefit from the exercise. It's recommended to start with bodyweight squats and gradually progress to weighted squats. Form is vital to prevent injury and get the most out of every rep.
Squatting is one of the most fundamental movements we will perform regularly in our day to day lives. This is why we start with teaching proper squat form and continue to build on it.
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