Let’s face it, repeating the same leg exercises can get monotonous. It's also not productive—to continually challenge yourself and build lower body muscle, you need to mix up your moves.
That’s why you should try this five-move sliders workout by NYC-based personal trainer Charlee Atkins, creator of Le Sweat TV fitness app. It includes several moves that will challenge your balance, stability and muscular strength. It also throws in some hip mobility moves, to keep you feeling agile.
Sliders, also known as gliders or gliding discs, are an affordable and effective way to shake up your training. You can find them for under $6 on Amazon or use a pair of folded towels as a budget-friendly alternative.
How to do the sliders workout
There are five moves in the workout:
- Kick-stand squat
- Lateral lunge
- Hip circles
- Leg curls
- Squat with hands on the floor
Aim for eight to 10 slow and controlled repetitions for each move, building up to 10-12 as you get stronger, and complete three rounds.
How sliders can help build core strength
While this workout focuses on the lower body, sliders also offer a core workout by introducing instability to your movements. This forces your abdominal muscles to work harder to maintain control and balance.
A strong core is essential for supporting your entire body, especially the spine. Over time, strengthening these muscles can improve your posture, balance and stability while reducing lower back pain.
Other tools like wobble boards and abs rollers can also help with core stability. You can perform sit-ups, crunches and planks as well to strengthen these important mid-body muscles.
