Reverse Lunges

What will this movement help with?

Sitting down onto the floor or a low bench
Picking objects up from the floor
Getting up and down from lower areas e.g low kitchen cabinets, cupboards

Muscles worked

Glutes (your bum)
Quads (front of your legs)
Abdominals (your core/tummy muscles)

Pointers

You might want a chair, wall or similar for this movement

Instructions

10-15 Repetitions Each Leg

Step 1

This is similar to our Split Squats in Level 2 but we’re taking it up a level here

Step 2

Hold your chair or support to your side

Step 3

Brace your tummy like someone is going to poke your stomach and keep your shoulders back with your chest up

Step 4

Keep your feet just wider than hip width apart with your weight mainly in the heel of your front foot. Squeeze your glutes (your bum) and step your back foot behind you with that heel raised up

Step 5

When you’re stable, lower yourself down towards the floor by bending both knees to 90 degrees. Don’t worry about going too low at first

Step 6

Keeping your glutes squeezed and your tummy braced, stand up and return to your start position with your feet together

Step 7

Repeat and then change legs

Notes

If the knee of your front leg goes over your ankle or you don’t have 90 degrees at your front knee when it’s bent, you need to move your back foot further back. Use a mirror if you’re unsure of what your knees are doing
As you become used to the movement try and go lower each time until your back knee is hovering just above the floor
Your back heel should stay raised at all times