5 reasons why you need to start squatting

If you're looking for a powerful way to boost your overall fitness and get some serious results – fast – from your workout routine, look no further than performing squatting exercises.

This is one exercise that should be a part of virtually everyone's routine, as it's relatively simple to perform, requires no equipment, and can be done just about anywhere.

So what’s so great about them?

1. Not just legs

Although squats are often regarded as leg exercises, they actually offer benefits throughout your entire body, including improving muscle tone in your buttocks and stomach too. In order to remain mobile and have healthier joints as we age, good muscle tone is vital.

2. The day-to-day gets easier

By improving your ability to squat, you will find that basic activities such as picking something off the floor or emptying the dishwasher become much easier. Getting up out of a chair or out of a car can also prove particularly problematic if you have a weaker core and thighs. Can you get up from a chair without using your hands? No? Then you need to squat.

3. Improves posture

As you squat, your weight is driven into your heels. To prevent you from falling, certain muscles – particularly the calf muscles and core – kick into action. Working out these muscles will help you to maintain balance and keep your ankles and hips in good alignment. Also, squatting works the rhomboid muscles between the shoulder blades – strength in these muscles prevents slouching. The more you know!

4. Better mobility

Spending most of our day sitting means that our hips, knees and ankles are much less likely to be taken through their full range of movement. Squats improve the range of motion in your ankles and hips, thus improving flexibility. This will also prevent conditions such as disuse osteoarthritis from developing.

5. Burn more of that fat

One of the most time-efficient ways to burn more calories is actually to gain more muscle! This is because our muscles use fat as its energy source, so building muscle tone will increase your metabolism. If you’re looking to lose weight, combine this with a reduction in your calorie intake and a healthy diet and you’re golden.

Every month, our Principal Osteopath, Rhian, starts a squat challenge for beginners – perhaps you could commit to 30 seconds a day of squatting? Click here to check out the NJB Squat Challenge.

If you are not sure about your technique or find you are in pain when squatting, book an appointment with one of our expert osteopaths by giving us a call today on 01722 512 043.