New to Bodyweight Squats? Avoid These Common Mistakes

Photo by Purple Smith from Pexels

Bodyweight squats are one of the most underrated strength exercises. They’re a compound, functional movement that don’t require any equipment and that can be done anywhere. They work your core, quads, hips, hamstrings, glutes, calves, and inner thighs. While bodyweight squats seem simple, many people make these common mistakes that result in them being less effective. Here are three mistakes to avoid and how to fix them.

Not Engaging Your Core

Not engaging your abs while you squat puts pressure on your lower back. Before you even start to squat, brace your core.

Lifting Your Heels

When your feet aren’t flat on the ground, you’re messing with your balance and body alignment. When you push down through your heels when you get back up, it engages your calves, glutes, and hamstrings. If you’re having trouble keeping your heels down, try a pair of weightlifting shoes or doing the exercise without shoes to help you drive your heels into the ground.

Letting Your Knees Go Inward

If your knees fall out of line with your ankles and hips, you’re putting extra pressure on them, which puts you more at risk for injuries. It also makes it easier on your glutes, which results in the exercise less effective. When doing the movement, think about driving your knees outward on the way down and up.