Squats With Dumbbells

Squats are part of strength training exercises that help target the leg muscles, hips and buttocks. They also help in strengthening the bones and ligaments present in these body parts. Squats is a basic exercise of weight training and is considered as the "King of Exercises". These are excellent thigh exercises with which you can tone your thigh and leg muscles. A squat is basically an exercise that involves lowering of the body with a straight back. Squats can be performed in various ways and using dumbbells is one of them. Combination of squats and dumbbells helps in building strong thigh muscles. Here are some simple steps to perform squats with dumbbells.

Different Types of Squat Exercises with Dumbbells

Plie Squats
To perform these squat exercise with dumbbells, hold a heavy weight dumbbell at the base with both the hands and stand in an upright position. The distance between your legs should be a little more than your shoulder width distance. Hang your arms in front of your body, with your toes facing out. Now, slowly bend your knees and lower your upper body without arching your back. Exhale and lower your body until your thighs are parallel to the floor. Then slowly get back to your original position by putting pressure on your heels. While performing this exercise, you should not arch your back and fold your arms when you are lowering your body. Perform 10 repetitions of this exercise.

Jump Squats
Stand in an upright position with very little distance between your legs and hold the dumbbells in each hand. Hang your hands towards your sides. Now lower your body by bending your knees. Bend down until your chest touches your thighs with your arms hanging straight towards your sides. Then lunge upwards by, all the while keeping your back straight. Then again lower your body and do 5 more repetitions. Make sure you use light weight dumbbells for performing this exercise.

Overhead Squats
Overhead dumbbell squats are considered to be difficult exercises. Stand in an upright position and hold the dumbbells in each hand with arms stretched upwards. Keep your arms and back straight and slowly squat. Lower your body so that your thighs touch your calves. Make sure you keep your arms straight when your lower your body. Now gently get back to the original position and stand straight with arms still pointing towards the ceiling. Do the exercise 5 more times.

Front Squats
Stand upright and grasp a dumbbell in each hand. Place the base of a dumbbell on top of your left shoulder and another on your right shoulder. In this position you should hold the dumbbells such that your elbows flare outward. Now keep a shoulder width apart distance between your feet and let your toes point forward. Squat down straight without arching your back and bend down until your thighs are just parallel to the floor. Then get back to the starting position with your back and legs straight. Do 5 more repetitions. While performing this exercise your knees and feet should point in the same direction.

These were some variations for performing squats with dumbbells. Now that you know how to do these exercises, include them in your exercise routine and build strong thigh muscles. All the Best!