How-to: Lower Body Archives |

Hip Flexor Stretches: Iliopsoas vs Rectus Femoris

It's time to talk about our hip flexors, what they do, and how to properly stretch them. Your hip flexors are a group of muscles that 😲 aid in hip flexion, which, in other terms, means pulling the thigh closer to the torso. The hip flexor complex i…

How-to: Tuck Jumps – Advanced Variations

Exercise: Tuck Jumps - Advanced VariationsDo: Get low to start every jump. Power up as high as possible and tuck both knees to chest. Attempt to stick the landing each time.Don't: do these without a very good warm-up.Easier: take more rest between jump…

How-to: Squat with Weight

Exercise: Squats with WeightDo: Keep weight in heels, maintain a slight curve in the lower back at the bottom position, keep chest and head lifted.Don't: squat lower if you can't maintain good form.Easier: Use lighter weight; use a Smith Machine at th…

How-to: Calf Raises with weight

Exercise: Weighted Calf RaisesDo: Rise as high as possible; lower with controlDon't: drop down quickly without resistance.Easier: Use lighter weight; use a calf raise machine at the gym.Harder: Lift heavier weight.See also: Calf Raises (single leg)[rd…

How-to: Thrusters

Exercise: ThrustersDo: Drive up powerfully with legs and hipsDon't: separate the movement into a slow squat and a slow overhead press.Easier: Use lighter weight.Harder: Lift heavier weight (in the video I have 15 lb dumbbells in each hand)See also: …

How-to: Split Squat with Raised Leg

Exercise: Split Squat with Raised Back LegDo: Place about 70% of your weight on the front foot. Drive through the heel of the front foot to rise up.Don't: allow front knee to cave inward.Easier: Do standard split squats insteadHarder: lift heavier weig…

How-to: Lunges with Weight

Exercise: Weighted LungeDo: Warm up with the bar only. Keep knees over toes. Drive through the heel of the front foot to rise up. Keep chest and head lifted.Don't: allow front knee to cave inward, or take too large a step forward.Easier: Do split squ…

How-to: Deadlift and Romanian Deadlift

Exercise: Deadlift; Romanian DeadliftDo: Warm up with the bar only. Set up with weight in heels, bar touching shins, chest lifted, shoulders directly above the bar. Pull first, straighten knees second. To lower, hinge at hips, then bend knees when bar…

How-to: Box Jump Variations

Exercise: Box Jumps (Standard, Squat Box Jump, and Seated Box Jump)Do: Land with feet completely on the box, and come to a full standing position, before stepping down. Explode up with the highest jump possible.Don't: hit your knuckles on the box!Easie…

How-to: Side to Side Switches

Exercise: Side to Side SwitchesDo: Hold weight close to body, use core to control the movement, move quickly and sharplyDon't: swing the weight in large arcs or compensate with a wide stance.Easier: n/aHarder: go faster, use heavier weight.[rda_video …

How-to: Long Jump Tuck Jump

Exercise: Long Jump + Tuck Jump CombinationDo: Spring up into the tuck jump quickly and vertically.Don't: jump forward on the tuck jump.Easier: Separate the two jumps with a pause.Harder: n/a[rda_video video_url="https://player.vimeo.com/video/13192816…

How-to: Long Jump with Weight

Exercise: Weighted Long JumpsDo: Swing the weight out in front of you, imagine it dragging you forward. Take it slow as you get used to the feeling.Don't: look for height, or swing the weight above shoulder height.Easier: eliminate the weightHarder: h…

How-to: Heismans

Exercise: HeismansDo: Keep feet fast and light; use your abs to tuck and crunch toward your kneeDon't: look for height - the movements should be lateralEasier: go slower and more deliberatelyHarder: faster feet![rda_video video_url="https://player.vim…

How-to: Lunge Stretch

Exercise: Lunge StretchDo: Focus on tilting your pelvis under; keep your knees aligned with your anklesDon't: let your front knee drive forward past your toes, or cave inward towards your centre line.Easier: Back knee resting on the floor. Back toes …

How-to: Lunge (Basic)

Exercise: Basic Lunge & VariationsDo: Try lunging in different orientations; keep your knees aligned with your ankles; keep your head and chest lifted; drive through the front heel as you push back to standing.Don't: let your front knee drive forw…

How-to: TFL + IT Band + Hamstring stretch

An overused IT band can get tight and angry for lots of skaters. Use this stretch to calm it down, but don't forget to do your glute strengthening work to help the underlying cause! Exercise: TFL + IT Band + Hamstring Stretch Do: Work with a friend or …

How-to: Walking Lunge

Exercise: Walking LungeDo: Keep head and shoulders lifted, drive up through your front heelDon't: let your front knee drive forward past your toes, or cave inward towards your centre line.Easier: hold on to a wall for support, don't bend as deeplyHar…

How-to: Sideways Stairs

Exercise: Sideways Stairs Do: Use "outside" and "inside" leg equally, & remember to swap sides every flight of stairs or two. Don't: forget to get low and attack the stairs like a speed skater [rda_video video_url="//player.vimeo.com/video/11323…

How-to: Wall Sit

Exercise: Wall Sits, and one-leg wall sits Do: Maintain a 90 degree bend in the knee When testing your single leg wall sit, get into a 2-leg sitting position, and start your timer when you lift one foot off the ground. Don't: rest your upper body/ar…

How-to: Skater Strides

Exercise: Skater Strides Do: Stay low throughout, keep head and chest lifted, use arms like a speed skater Don't: bob up and down, or half-ass it and wind up looking like a tap dancer :) [rda_video video_url="//player.vimeo.com/video/113225196"]…

How-to: Single Leg Squat

Exercise: Single Leg Squat Do: Engage your core, shoot for a 90 degree bend, try different leg positions Don't: let your shoulders and head do all the lowering! Easier: hold on to a wall or counter for support Harder: get lower! [rda_video video…

How-to: Single Leg Dead Lift

Exercise: Single Leg Dead Lift, aka SLDL or 1LDLDo: Engage your core, hinge your torso and leg as a unit, send your hips backward and weight over your heelDon't: use the same forward arm as your supporting leg! Easier: n/aHarder: Add a dumbbell or ke…

How-to: Isometric Stride Push

Exercise: Isometric Stride Push Do: Get low, try to push the wall right over! [rda_video video_url="//player.vimeo.com/video/113223593"]…

How-to: Frog Jumps

Exercise: Frog Jumps Do: Jump for distance, not height, try to minimize the number of hops backward you need to get back to your starting point [rda_video video_url="//player.vimeo.com/video/113222807"]…

How-to: Duck Walk

Exercise: Duck Walks Do: Take long, low strides Don't: Pop up between steps Easier: Shorter sustained periods of walking Harder: Keep going! quack! [rda_video video_url="//player.vimeo.com/video/113222353"]…

How-to: Cross-Under Swipes

Exercise: Cross-Under Swipes Do: Bend your supporting leg; keep a flexed foot with instep facing the sky on your follow-through; adjust your pressure, surface, and footwear to make the exercise doable but challenging Don't: forget to "reach" with y…

How-to: Cross-Under Squats

Exercise: Cross-Under Squats Do: Keep head and chest lifted, get hips down low, reach far across with the back leg Don't: take miniature steps, or only bend forward at the waist instead of bending from the knees [rda_video video_url="//player.vimeo.…

How-to: Chair Step-Up

Exercise: Chair Step-Ups & Step-Up / Cross-Under Combos* Do: Drive through your heel, all the way up Don't: Get only halfway up Easier: Standard step up Harder: Double-time, Up and Over variations *check out the Cross-Under squat video for m…

How-to: Calf Raises

Exercise: Calf Raises Do: Rise and lower with control; distribute weight evenly across the balls of your feet. Don't: let your heels splay out to the sides. Easier: hold on to a wall for stabiity Harder: one-leg calf raises; add weight [rda_video…

How-to: Forward Lean-Over Lunge

Exercise: Forward Lean-Over Lunge Do: Take a big enough step forward that your back leg is fairly straight; push through your heel to "spring" back to the starting position Don't: let your front knee "cave in" towards your centreline - instead keep you…

How-to: Clamshells

Exercise: Clamshells Do: Line up your shoulders, hips, and heels on a straight line Don't: Race through the reps [rda_video video_url="http://player.vimeo.com/video/65507212"] Click here to see all the How-To Videos... …

How-to: Chair Squats

Exercise: Chair Squats Do: Lower with control, keep your supporting knee pointed straight forward over your toe Don't: Drop heavily into the chair; allow your supporting knee to cave inward Easier: use a higher platform (bed, arm of a couch), or do wit…

How-to: Burpees & Variations

Exercise: Burpees Variations:Half Burpees, Squat Thrusts Do: Hit all the 'stops' with good form: Squat, plank, push-up, squat-jump Don't: Rush through it and sacrifice form [rda_video video_url="//player.vimeo.com/video/99249736"] Click here…

How-to: Bridges & Variations

Exercise: Bridges Variations: Basic, One leg, Marching, One leg with a Kick Do: Keep hips level and as still as possible. Engage your abs and glutes before lifting your hips Don't: Allow hips to dip side to side Easier / Harder: The variations are li…

How-to: Lunge Jumps

Exercise: Lunge Jumps Do: Jump high! Keep your chest and head lifted Don't: Allow your front knee to cave in towards centre, or push forward past your toes Easier: Go slower, step between positions instead of jumping Harder: n/a [rda_video video_url=…

How-to: High Knees

Exercise: High Knees Do: Get your knees high! Don't: look down, let your chest and shoulders sag Easier: fewer reps, go more slowly Harder: step quickly [rda_video video_url="//player.vimeo.com/video/98698078"] Click here to see all the How-…

How-to: Good Mornings

Exercise: Good Mornings Do: Keep head lifted, focus on sending hips backwards Don't: Let your weight move forward into your toes Easier: n/a Harder: add weight [rda_video video_url="//player.vimeo.com/video/98613055"] Click here to see all t…

How-to: Mountain Climbers & Spidermans

Exercise: Mountain Climbers and Spidermans For Mountain Climbers, bring your knees straight in towards your chest without touching your front foot to the floor; for Spidermans, bring your front foot to the outside of your hand and transfer your weight to…

How-to: Power Push-Ups

Exercise: Power Push-Ups Do: practice good plank and push-up form Don't: allow your hips to rise or sag Easier: Do push-ups from your knees Harder: n/a [rda_video video_url="//player.vimeo.com/video/99309990"] Click here to see all the How-T…

How-to: Lunge Twist

Exercise: Lunge Twist Do: Practice good lunge form - front knee tracking straight over your supporting ankle Don't: Allow front knee to "cave in" towards centre or come past your toes Easier: Keep arms closer to your body Harder: Add weight [rda_vide…

How-to: Side Lunge

Exercise: Side Lunge Do: Keep weight in your heel, hips pointing back; spring back to the starting position Don't: Look down Easier: n/a Harder: Add weight [rda_video video_url="//player.vimeo.com/video/99794093"] Click here to see all the H…

How-to: Side Lifts

Exercise: Side Lifts Do: Align your head, butt, and heels in one straight line Don't: Look down at your feet [rda_video video_url="//player.vimeo.com/video/98613050"] Click here to see all the How-To Videos... …

How-to: Sumo Squats & Variations

Exercise: Sumo Squats Variations: Sumo-Squat-Tiptoe, Sumo Squat Pulses Do: Rotate your legs from the hip, use adductors (inner thighs) and glutes (booty) to hold this rotation throughout Don't: Turn your feet out further than your hip flexibility allow…

How-to: Split Squat

Exercise: Split Squat Do: Keep chest lifted, stance wide enough that both knees bend to 90 degrees but no further Don't: Allow your front knee to cave inward Easier: n/a Harder: add weight [rda_video video_url="//player.vimeo.com/video/99557149"] &…

How-to: Skater Jumps & Hops

Exercise: Skater Jumps Variation: Skater Jumps & Hops Do: Take speed skater posture, low and bent at the waist. Jump wide and low. For the jump+hop variation, get as much air under your toes on the Hop as you can! Don't: Pop up and over; transfe…

How-to: Tuck Jumps

Exercise: Tuck Jumps Do: Get your knees UP! Land with soft knees Don't: try these before being well warmed up Easier: take small stutter jumps in between each tuck jump Harder: jump higher, go faster [rda_video video_url="//player.vimeo.com/video/99…

How-to: Hamstring Curls on a ball

Exercise: Hamstring Curls on a ball (FOB) Variations: 2 legs, 2-to-1, single leg Do: Keep hips lifted Easier: 2 legs; take more rests Harder: single leg variations [rda_video video_url="http://player.vimeo.com/video/65522689"] Click here to…

How-to: High Bridge with Marching on a Ball

Exercise: High Bridge with Marching on a Ball Do: Keep hips lifted, keep torso as still as possible Don't: let hips sag Easier: no arms Harder: with arms [rda_video video_url="http://player.vimeo.com/video/65524827"] Click here to see all t…

How-to: Bridge – Feet on a Ball

Exercise: Bridge - Feet on a Ball (FOB) [rda_video video_url="http://player.vimeo.com/video/65523185"] Click here to see all the How-To Videos... …

How-to: Squats & Squat Jump Variations

Exercise: Squats Variations: Squat Jumps, Squat Jump + Tuck Jump Do: Send hips back first, keep chest and head lifted. For jumping variations, do land with soft knees! Don't: allow weight forward into your toes; look down Easier: If you can't perform…