If you’re new to exercise it won’t be long before a credible Personal Trainer or gym mentor will get you chatting about the benefits of adding squats into your routine. If you’re already a regular exerciser or bit of a gym pro you’ll probably already have a range of squat based exercises at the ready to make sure your routine generates some serious results.
So why exactly is it so important to squat?
1 – Squats have muscle building properties
Squats work you key leg muscles including the mighty quadriceps, hamstrings and calves. But it doesn’t stop there! This powerful exercise ignites muscle building potential throughout your body giving you a well-rounded strength building workout.
2 – Squats assist with fat burning
We’ve already established that squats are a powerful muscle building exercise, but did you know muscle is a great asset to the body because it burns more calories than fat. As little as one pound of muscle gained burns roughly 50-100 extra calories a day and this is great news if you’re seeking some fat loss. What’s more muscle gives the body great tone and definition, what’s not to love?
3 – Squats mirror human movement
Here at NutriFit Clinic, based in Pinner we’re huge fans of finding nifty ways to incorporate functional exercise into our clients personal training programmes. This is because functional exercise supports the real-life activities we carry out every day, and you guessed it the squat is an awesome example.
Here’s why;
- If you’ve dropped something on the floor you squat to pick it up.
- You squat when you go to the toilet and get into the car probably without even realising!
- Individuals with small children and pets perform the squat numerous times a day.
- Got some cleaning, shopping or gardening to do? Yet again, the squat is a key movement.
Squatting effectively therefore gives us huge carry over benefits supporting daily living that are far reaching and extend well beyond those gained simply from your hour’s workout.
4 – Squats help us age well
We know from experience working with a wide range of senior personal training clients that a key driver and goal from their exercise programme is to assist in maintaining strength, flexibility, mobility and cognitive health. Seniors want exercises that deliver and this means keeping a quality, active lifestyle and the squat serves up all these benefits on a platter.
A word of caution
Hopefully we’ve convinced you that the squat is a really important exercise. But before you get started there’s a right and wrong way to squat. Take the time to learn how to perfect the art of this primal human movement pattern and apply this technique consistently to your daily living to reap the benefits.
If you’re not sure how to get started or if your technique is not at its best an exercise consultation is a great place to begin.
