How to make this hard exercise more doable

This exercise, a variation of the Pistol Squat that we call the 1-leg Squat to Bench, is phenomenal for developing leg strength and balance, among other benefits. 

It might be our most-hated exercise, one that many of our new members struggle with initially.  

That’s primarily because the vast majority of people in midlife do little to nothing to develop and preserve leg strength and balance. And what little they may do is seldom done unilaterally, using each leg independently of the other. 

So, it doesn’t surprise us that this move is a challenge for most. 

Here are a couple of quick modifications that can help:

• Hold onto something sturdy or put a hand on the wall. Use that to offload as little body weight as you need to complete the reps without feeling off balance or to relieve your knee pain. 

• Use the heel of your non-working leg as a sorta kickstand. By simply touching the heel to the floor, you’ve given yourself a second point of contact, which translates to better equilibrium and control through the movement. 

That’s it! Pretty simple. 

Add these to your weekly lower-body training as an accessory exercise. Start with two sets of eight reps each. 

We build unilateral, eccentric, and balance training into all of our training programs. 

Do you need some help and guidance with yours? Reply to this email and we’ll get you set up to speak with Coach Patty live.