Leg exercises

Everything that trains the lower body sits here — quads, hamstrings, glutes and calves, from squats with no load to heavy barbell work. Narrow the list by equipment first: bodyweight moves cover a session at home, and barbells and dumbbells open up once you're in a gym. For a balanced week, pair a knee-dominant movement such as a squat or lunge with a hip hinge that loads the hamstrings.

  • Machine Hack Squat

    The Machine Hack Squat is a compound lower body exercise that targets the quadriceps, glutes, and hamstrings. It is performed using a hack squat machine, which provides support and stability, allowing for controlled movement and reduced risk of injury. This exercise is ideal for building strength and muscle mass in the legs while minimizing strain on the lower back.
    LegsBeginner
  • Barbell Reverse Lunges

    The Barbell Reverse Lunge is a compound lower-body exercise that targets the quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, and calves. It involves stepping backward into a lunge position while holding a barbell across the upper back, requiring balance and core stability.
    LegsIntermediate
  • Hip Circles

    Hip Circles are a dynamic warm-up exercise that targets the hip joints, improving flexibility and mobility. This exercise involves rotating the hips in a circular motion, which helps to loosen tight muscles and prepare the body for more intense physical activity. It is particularly beneficial for athletes and individuals engaging in lower body workouts.
    LegsBeginner
  • Crossack Squat

    The Cossack Squat is a lower body exercise that targets the muscles of the legs, particularly the quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, and adductors. It also enhances flexibility, balance, and mobility in the hips and ankles. This exercise involves a lateral movement pattern, which helps in developing strength and stability in the lower body.
    LegsIntermediate
  • Dumbbell Side Lunges

    Dumbbell Side Lunges target the muscles of the lower body, including the quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, and inner thighs. This exercise enhances balance, stability, and lateral movement strength.
    LegsIntermediate
  • Weighted Cossack Squat

    The Weighted Cossack Squat is a unilateral lower body exercise that targets the quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, and adductors. It involves performing a deep lateral squat while holding a weight, such as a dumbbell or kettlebell, to increase resistance and improve strength, balance, and flexibility.
    LegsIntermediate
  • Dumbbell Straight Leg Deadlift

    Dumbbell Straight Leg Deadlift is a dumbbell hip-hinge variation that emphasizes the hamstrings, glutes, and spinal erectors. It is a posterior-chain strength exercise with relatively straight knees.
    LegsIntermediate
  • Dumbbell Goblet Squat

    Dumbbell Goblet Squat is a lower-body squat performed with a dumbbell held in front of the chest. The front-held load emphasizes the quadriceps and glutes while supporting an upright torso position.
    LegsBeginner
  • Kettlebell Rear Lunge

    The Kettlebell Rear Lunge is a compound exercise that targets the lower body, particularly the quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, and calves. It also engages the core for stability. This exercise involves stepping backward into a lunge position while holding a kettlebell, which adds resistance and challenges balance.
    LegsIntermediate
  • Split Squat

    The split squat is a lower-body exercise that targets the quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, and calves. It involves a unilateral movement pattern that enhances balance and stability while improving strength in the legs. This exercise is performed by stepping one foot forward and lowering the hips until the rear knee nearly touches the ground, then returning to the starting position.
    LegsIntermediate
  • Barbell Split Squat

    Barbell Split Squat is a unilateral lower-body squat variation performed from a fixed split stance with a barbell. It develops the quadriceps, glutes, hamstrings, and balance between the legs.
    LegsIntermediate
  • Side Lunges

    Side lunges, also known as lateral lunges, are a lower body exercise that targets the quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, and adductors. This movement enhances balance, flexibility, and strength by engaging multiple muscle groups and stabilizing muscles.
    LegsIntermediate
  • Goblet Squat

    The Goblet Squat is a lower-body exercise that primarily targets the quadriceps, glutes, and hamstrings. It involves holding a weight, typically a dumbbell or kettlebell, close to the chest while performing a squat. This exercise helps improve core stability, balance, and overall leg strength.
    LegsBeginner
  • Wall Sit

    The Wall Sit is an isometric exercise that targets the quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes. It involves holding a seated position against a wall without any support from a chair, engaging the lower body muscles to maintain the position.
    LegsBeginner
  • Trap Bar Deadlift

    The Trap Bar Deadlift is a compound exercise targeting the lower body, particularly the quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, and lower back. It utilizes a hexagonal barbell, allowing for a more upright torso position and reducing stress on the lower back compared to a conventional deadlift.
    LegsIntermediate
  • Smith Calf Raises

    Smith Calf Raises are a strength training exercise targeting the calf muscles, primarily the gastrocnemius and soleus. Utilizing the Smith machine provides stability, allowing for controlled movement and focus on muscle contraction. This exercise is effective for building calf strength and size.
    LegsBeginner
  • Kickboxing

    Kickboxing is a high-intensity workout that combines elements of traditional boxing with martial arts techniques. It involves punches, kicks, and defensive movements, providing a full-body workout that improves cardiovascular endurance, strength, agility, and coordination. Kickboxing can be performed in various settings, including gyms and fitness studios, often as part of a group class or individual training session.
    LegsAdvanced
  • Prowler Sled

    The Prowler Sled is a versatile piece of equipment used for strength and conditioning. It involves pushing or pulling a weighted sled across a surface, engaging multiple muscle groups including the legs, core, and upper body. This exercise is excellent for building power, endurance, and cardiovascular fitness.
    LegsIntermediate
  • Standing Calf Raise

    The Standing Calf Raise is an isolation exercise targeting the calf muscles, primarily the gastrocnemius and soleus. It involves lifting the heels off the ground while standing, thereby engaging the calves to elevate the body. This exercise can be performed with body weight or additional resistance using a barbell or dumbbells.
    LegsBeginner
  • Barbell Thruster

    Barbell Thruster is a full-body barbell exercise that combines a front squat with an overhead press. It develops the legs, glutes, shoulders, triceps, power, and whole-body coordination.
    LegsAdvanced
  • Barbell Straight Leg Deadlift

    Barbell Straight Leg Deadlift is a barbell hip-hinge exercise that emphasizes the hamstrings, glutes, and spinal erectors. Its straighter-leg setup makes it a distinct posterior-chain variation from a conventional deadlift.
    LegsIntermediate
  • Barbell Rack Pull (Bent Knees)

    Barbell Rack Pull (Bent Knees) is a partial deadlift from rack supports with more knee bend than the straighter-knee variation. The glutes and leg muscles extend the hips and knees, while the back, trunk and grip support the barbell. The raised starting position distinguishes this lift from a deadlift performed from the floor.
    GlutesAdvanced
  • Dumbbell Walking Lunges

    Dumbbell Walking Lunges are a loaded lunge variation that moves forward from repetition to repetition. They train the quadriceps, glutes, and hamstrings while developing unilateral strength, balance, and coordination.
    LegsBeginner
  • Band Lying Leg Curl

    Band Lying Leg Curl is an isolation hamstring exercise performed lying face down with elastic resistance. It focuses on knee-flexion strength in the back of the thigh.
    LegsBeginner