Whether it’s using your bodyweight, an Olympic barbell or a pair of dumbbells, squats are one of the best compound exercises for building strength and size in our lower body. “ The squat packs a punch that other exercises struggle to rival are great for developing the size and strength of your glutes, quads, thighs, calves, hamstrings and core all in one movement," says Mark Bohannon, Certified Personal Trainer at Ultimate Performance.
But, despite their popularity, squats are a bit of a marmite exercise, you either love them or hate them. “Some people struggle with the classic back squat because they have long femurs and short torsos, so they typically have to bend over much more to keep the bar in line with the middle of the foot," says Mark. "For others, range of motion and flexibility in the knees is a problem, which can make it difficult to get parallel to the floor.”
