Build Muscle Without Weights – The Leg Squat

It could be said that the most simple and efficient exercise to begin bodybuilding, and one which does not require any particularly special eqipment, is the leg squat. In later stages, weights applied across the shoulders and hands can also lead to considerable muscle growth.

Nonetheless, it can be one of the most effective exercises you can use to maintain muscle tone and build definition in virtually all of your leg muscles.

The leg squat is so simple and easy an exercise to perform that it can even be carried while being engaged in some other activity, such as watching TV, cooking and even on the telephone.

Let us now talk about how to carry out this powerful exercise…

For the leg squat, comfort is a priority, so feeling out of sorts or not fully ready for it be quite dangerous. Doing it incompletely or doing it poorly can, potentially, be even more damaging than not doing it at all.

This is how you prepare yourself for the leg squats:

1) Firstly you should stand with your legs apart, at shoulder width, as an ideal. Shake your body gently to loosen it up.

2) Take several deep breaths, consciously breathing from the stomach, rather than the chest.

3) Relaxation is important. Concentrate on your body and try to gauge how able your body is to take the exercise.

4) Gradually lower your body while beginning the leg squat. Bend gently down at the knees. Exhale on the downward movement.

5) Stop and hold posture for a few seconds at the lowest point. This is the most important element of the leg squat exercise. Bring your body up again, to standing, inhaling as you do.

This is an easy exercise but immensely beneficial. You will find your muscles tightening up over a period of time.

If you find it difficult to balance, you might also bring your arms into the exercise, to help you. Start with your arms pointing out at right-angles in the standing position. As you squat down, allow your arms to point upwards, then bring them back to the starting point as you begin to stand again.

The number of repetitions is up to you. Don’t start with high reps initially, as that can cause you harm. As you continue to practice, you’ll gain strength and vice versa. You can slowly increase the number as you progress, and you will soon come to see that bodybuilding leg squats are easier than you might have at first thought.

Beginning with leg squats is very good for the legs. After you have gained some strength, you can use small weights on a barbell, and increase the weight and repetitions as your strength improves.

You can vary the leg squat exercise, to target muscles of the legs in slightly different ways.

For instance, standing with toes directed slightly outwards will allow you to work on the muscles of the inner thigh.

On the other hand, if the toes point inwards the reverse happens and the outer thigh receives the benefit.

Leg squats as the foundation of your bodybuilding routine will definitely take care of your legs. However, keep in mind that you should start slowly and get the technique right before you build up the repetitons and increase the intensity of the exercise with weights.

Source by Jason Virago

via Paleohacks Paleo Cookbook Review http://ift.tt/1HUAJv6