Lower Body Exercises for Balance

Today I just want to demonstrate a couple of lower body exercises that will help keep your body in balance.

 

Most people will focus more on quad dominant lower body exercises, but often neglect the posterior muscles of the glutes and hamstrings.

 

If you don't incorporate exercises to improve both sides of your lower body, then things can get out of balance and this can lead to inefficient movement and potential injuries.

 

Doing exercises like deadlift variations, dumbbell/kettlebell swings and glute bridges will all help improve your posterior leg muscles.

 

Here are a couple of other exercises you can try for variety in your workouts...

 

 

1. BOSU Bodyweight Single Leg Straight Leg Deadlift

 

• If you don't have a BOSU, try doing it on the ground with your eyes closed.
• Stand on one leg and then bend forward from your hips and extend your other leg out behind
• Squeeze your glutes to pull yourself back up to the start position.
• Do 8-12 reps on each leg.

 

 

 

2. TRX Leg Curl

• If you don't have a TRX or suspension trainer, you can do this exercise with your feet on a swiss ball.
• Hook your heels into the TRX then lift your butt off the ground.
• Curl your heels towards your butt, lifting your hips as you do.
• Slowly return to the start position.
• Do 8-12 reps. 

 

 

 

Make sure with all of your workouts you are keeping a balanced approach in your training to help prevent muscle imbalances. 

 

This means upper body pushing and pulling exercises and lower body quad dominant and hip dominant exercises.

 

Do this will a good mix of core training and interval cardio training and you will be on your way to enhanced fitness and performance!