Exercise of the month - How to squat To start, stand up with your feet hip width apart. Keep your spine neutral, back straight and shoulders up. As you squat, breathe in and imitate the sitting position with your hips slightly lower than your knee (if you don’t have any problems with your knees). Then exhale as you stand. Aim to keep your knees behind your toes so that your knees don’t cave in. If you are new to squats, it’s best to give your body time to adjust so you start off with just a few a day. You may feel some muscle soreness after a couple of days if you are not used to doing repetitions, but don’t be put off, this is normal and will soon wear off. Squats will gradually become easier and the muscle soreness will reduce. Once you are comfortable with them, you can aim for three sets of 12-15 repetitions and then add a few more each week to continue your progress. For most people, squats are an everyday activity that we do naturally by standing up and sitting down. Exercise squats are just an extension of this movement. When we develop this into an exercise routine, there are some great benefits for our lower body and core. And you can do this simple exercise almost anywhere. Squats use every leg muscle and they strengthen ligaments, calves, hamstrings, glutes and quadriceps. This helps with balance and mobility and this is particularly important as we get older. This exercise engages abs and core and by strengthening muscles, also burns calories. Lifestyle abingdon.org.uk/sports-and-leisure 5 Activities are run by Abingdon School Enterprises Limited on behalf of Abingdon School. Company No.04442429
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