The lower body contains some of your biggest muscles which are capable of bearing significant weights. The temptation for beginners to go for broke by performing heavy squats should be resisted. To begin with you should concentrate on building the muscles safely by using machines that isolate muscle groups. The squat is an excellent compound exercise that trains numerous lower body muscles but it is one you should learn properly after spending three months strengthening the individual muscles that will be utilized later.
The muscles of the lower body can be divided into five groups:
1. Quads – this is the big muscle group consisting of four muscles at the front of the thigh. These are the primary muscles used when performing exercises such as squats, leg press, lunge and leg extension.
2. Hamstrings – these are the main muscles at the back of the thigh. These are the primary muscles used when performing leg curls.
3. Gluteals – these are the muscles that make up the buttocks.
4. Hip flexors – these are the small muscles at the front of the pelvis that allow you to raise your legs to the front.
5. Calves –...