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The Squat

When I was younger I loved working upper body, but totally ignored my lower body. I knew about 30 different ways to curl a dumbbell but knew diddly-squat about legs. One would think squatting is the most natural thing to do, and it is, case in point, look to the left! It is the most natural thing in the world for a child to do. In many parts of the world a deep squat is a way to a break. It is so functional even grandmothers in most parts of the world can still preform a deep squat without “falling and can’t get up”. So in college, after several years of working on my upper body before hand, I decided now was a good time to strengthen my legs. Naturally I thought I would start in the gym. Enter the hack squat and say hello to patella femoral syndrome. It only took one set and that was it. After years of accomplished lifting, I injured myself at my first attempt to strengthen my legs. I was devastated and lost… If you have ever felt that way, then what I am about to say next is for you. When starting any exercise regimen, start with body weight exercises first! Get used to the way your body moves without resistance before loading up the plates. It doesn’t matter if you know your way around the gym. If you have never done the exercise before, start light before you go heavy. By doing so, you will teach your body to build the correct form into your muscle memory. If you want to strengthen your legs try the air squat. It is the most basic and overlooked exercise because it is something we do everyday. Every time you get out of a chair you do an air squat. That makes the air squat a functional part of your exercise regimen. Challenge yourself to a 3 min chair squat a day for 6 months. Start slow and as you build muscle memory over the coming weeks you will pick up speed.