Exercising your leg muscles burns calories, improves your posture and provides you with additional strength over your entire body. If you don't have the time to make it to the gym, you can still get a great leg workout at home. These exercises help build muscle and tone your legs while aiding you in reaching your fitness goals.
Tube Walk
The tube walk exercise requires the use of a toning band. Stand on the center of the band with one handle in each of your hands. Position your feet shoulder-width apart. Grab the right handle with your left hand and the left handle with your right hand, crossing the band in front of you. Your left hand should be positioned by your left hip and your right hand should be positioned by your right hip. Stand up straight with your knees straight and feet parallel. With your right foot, take a small step toward your right. With your left foot, take a step to your right, bringing your feet back to shoulder-width apart. Take a total of 10 steps to the right and then switch directions.
Bodyweight Squat
Start by standing with your feet just over hip-width apart. Slightly turn your toes outward and place your hands at your sides with your palms facing in. Shift your hips back and down, creating a movement that resembles a hinge at your knees and hips. Stiffen your core muscles and lower your body until your thighs are nearly parallel to the floor. If you cannot get that low, lower yourself until your torso begins to flex forward. Breathe out, push your feet into the floor to extend your knees and hips. Raise your hips and torso and slowly return to the starting position. Repeat for 10 to 15 repetitions.
Lunges with Dumbbells
Hold a dumbbell in each hand and stand with your feet about hip-width apart. Use your left leg to lunge forward and the straighten it. Your knee should be about an inch off the ground. Distribute your weight evenly between your legs and keep your torso perpendicular with the floor. Keep your weight in your heels. Perform the lunges for 30 seconds, switch legs and perform another set for 30 seconds.
Dumbbell Lateral Step Ups
This exercise uses dumbbells and an exercise step. Hold one dumbbell in each hand and place an exercise step on your side. While holding the weights to your sides, take a lateral step onto the exercise step, bring your trailing foot up onto the step and then step off the opposite side. Repeat for a total of 10 steps in each direction.
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