Quad exercises

Bodyweight Squat

Also known as: Squat au poids du corps · Καθίσματα χωρίς βάρος · air squat · bodyweight squats

Primary
Quads
Equipment
Bodyweight
Level
Beginner
Type
Compound
Suggested rest
1 min

How to do the Bodyweight Squat

  1. Stand with feet shoulder-width apart and your arms out in front.

  2. Push your hips back and bend your knees as if sitting in a chair.

  3. Go down until your thighs are parallel to the floor, heels down.

  4. Stand back up by pushing through your whole foot.

Sets and reps

GoalSetsRepsRest
Muscle growth3–46–151 min
Muscular endurance2–315–201 min

When you hit the top of the rep range on every set, add a rep or a harder variation next session.

Starting points from training research. Stop each set 1–3 reps short of failure.

Muscles worked

Primary

Quads

Secondary

Glutes

The front of your thighs straightens the knee. Squats, leg presses and lunges with deep knee bend build them; leg extensions isolate them.

Alternatives

Same muscles, similar movement: swap in one of these if the Bodyweight Squat doesn’t suit your gym or your joints.

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Bodyweight quad exercises