Personal trainers and gym bunnies ALL agree on one thing; a squat is great for your body. Wherever and however you train, chances are a squat comes into play at some point. But it turns out we don't always get it right. At its best a squat works the whole body and is the key to honing that booty we have always dreamed of. You can never get bored (apparently) as there are hundreds of ways to pimp your squat and make it more intense.
We spoke to one of Equinox’s (one of London’s premium health clubs) top trainers Caitlin McGowan who is the queen of the squat and really knows how to work it for maximum results.
She says: ‘I strongly believe squatting is the best bang for your buck strength exercise, for many reasons. The squat hits many different muscle groups all at once. The most obvious ones targeted are the quads, hamstrings, glutes, and calves. In addition to the lower body benefits, squatting will engage the core muscles of the body. The abdominals and back muscles are working during a squat to stabilize the torso and maintain a neutral spine.’ Sounds good to us.
That’s not all, she explains that ‘If performed correctly, squats are intense enough to elevate your heart rate and torch major calories. Most of the muscle you gain from squatting heavy will come from your lower body, and the more muscle that you gain the more fat you will burn.’ We are sold. So how do we nail this beast?
Next time your squatting Caitlin suggests these top training techniques. Then once you nail this, try upgrading your squat.
- Keep the head facing forward
- Keep your weight in heels
- Maintain a straight back
- Push butt back; imagine you are sitting into a chair
- Thighs should be parallel to floor or lower
- Keep knees parallel to toes
Equinox offers an integrated selection of Equinox branded programs, services and products, including strength and cardio training, studio classes, personal training, spa services and products, apparel and food/juice bars.
