by Janet Hughes

Created on: June 04, 2008

Lower Body Exercises. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> I am going to tell you right now, up front, that this article is about the basics. It is not about all the flashy exercise machines out there. Or about the big sexy moves you see at the gym. Why is not about these things you may be asking? Well that is because none of those matter if you haven't mastered the basics. And the biggest baddest results producing lower body exercises are: the squat, the lunge and the dead lift. That's it folks. That is the personal trainers secret to a great lower half. Pretty straight forward huh? Now I know you are about ready to dismiss this article completely. I mean come on who wants to read about the basics. But I am telling you as a veteran Personal Trainer, these moves are the ones to get you the results you are looking for. They will help to tighten and strengthen weak muscles. They create endurance and power. And being three of the largest muscle groups in the body they burn calories like crazy. They literally gobble excess calories right up. So regardless of your fitness goals mastering these three movements is the key to your success. All three movements engage the quadriceps, hamstrings and glutes, but to varying degrees depending on the angle and foot positioning. So by combining these movements, with small variations in position, you can blast through your lower body workout each and every time. And once you have gained a full understanding of the technique required to complete these three basic moves, you have then laid the foundation for moving on to more variation and more complex movements. And while outlining the correct form for each movement is beyond the scope of this article, I will say that working with a qualified personal trainer is the best thing you can do for your self when getting started. Your trainer will ensure that your body is learning how to replicate these movements correctly from your first attempt through to your fiftieth. Which builds a strong neuromuscular pattern and reduces the risk of injury. For while all three movements (especially squats) appear simple enough on the surface there is a lot going on with in the body to ensure proper stabilization and activation has occurred. So talk to a trainer and learn the basics. You won't be disappointed with your results. Happy squatting to all!

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