Best Legs Exercises in Gym to Strengthen and Tone Your Lower Body
Although many people despise lower body training, some love toning their lower body, and nothing can stop them from doing a specific workout for this body part. Doing a proper leg workout at the gym benefits the human body in several ways – it shapes our legs, quads, and glutes by building lean muscle mass in those specific areas. There are several reasons why one should not look for excuses to skip leg exercise at the gym or even at home.
Speaking of which, our legs incorporate the largest muscle group and a complete lower body workout regimen is essential to maintain activity levels, build strength, and foster harmony in the human body. Let us tell you that weak legs are a sign that your back will not be able to support your upper body. Whether you are training at home or doing leg exercises at the gym, just don’t skip the day. Other reasons are mentioned below!
Why Should One Never Skip a Lower Body Workout?
Proper lower body training offers significant benefits, both for the aesthetics of your legs and for your overall fitness. Here’s what you need to know:
1. Strong Foundation
The legs support the entire body and require all of our strength. Training them well improves balance, stability, and overall functional fitness. It is also important for daily activities and athletic performance.
2. Full-Body Gains
Some leg exercises, such as squats and deadlifts, activate large muscle groups and release growth hormones, which significantly helps with muscle development throughout the body, not just in the legs.
3. Enhanced Aesthetics
Skipping leg day can cause a physical imbalance. Yes, you read that right! A strong upper body but underdeveloped legs (what they call “chicken legs”) is not a good look. A well-developed lower body complements your overall look.
4. Improved Athletic Performance
Strong legs are essential for improving speed, power and endurance in sports and fitness activities like running, jumping and weightlifting. That is why the trainers at Anytime Fitness India motivate all members to perform constructive leg exercises at the gym.
5. Burn More Calories
Leg exercises target large muscle groups, which require more energy. For those who want to burn more calories, a leg workout that includes a great quad or thigh workout can help. It increases calorie burning during and after workouts, which helps with fat loss and metabolism.
6. Mental Toughness
Leg exercises at the gym can be challenging, but it builds great mental stamina. Doing regular lower body exercises can instill discipline, which can also provide all-round wellness.
Skipping leg day may seem tempting to many, but the benefits far outweigh the temporary discomfort. A strong, balanced body starts from the bottom up – literally!
While talking about all of this, it is also important to know what leg muscle exercises should be performed to reap the full benefits. Let’s clear this up!
Leg Muscles to Work Upon
As mentioned above, the leg muscles are the largest in the body, so to have a strong foundation, a person needs to work the hamstrings, quadriceps, abductors, adductors, and calves.
- Glutes and Hamstrings – At the back of the human body, the glutes and hamstrings incorporate 3 muscles each. Also, when we talk about the back of the lower leg, it includes 3 muscles that are collectively known as the calf muscle.
- Quadriceps – The quadriceps are a group of 4 muscles that help us stabilize and extend the knee – these are vital for movements like jumping and running.
- Adductors and Abductors – The abductors (the outer leg muscles) include parts of the glute and other smaller muscles that help open the leg away from the midline of the body. On the other hand, the adductors (the inner leg muscles) include four muscles that help a person to close the thigh towards the center of the body.
So, remember to train these vital muscles of your body. Now, it is time to look at some of the most effective leg exercises that one should perform in the gym or at home.
