Exercise of the Week - Squat with Inner Thigh Lift

I'm not a big fan of working muscles in isolation, especially small muscles like those of the inner and outer thighs. I probably did a zillion leg lifts back in the day hoping, like a lot of people, to get rid of that jiggly fat around the thighs. It never worked. When I became a trainer, I saw the benefit of working those muscles in conjunction with the rest of the lower body muscles, since that's how they operate in real life. It was also a relief to stop spending time lying on the floor and flapping my legs up and down.

This inner thigh exercise is a perfect example of a way to work the thighs while involving more muscle groups. What makes this exercise tough is balancing on one leg while lifting the other across the body. I also added a side squat with the standing leg so that everything is working. One issue you may have with this move is finding a way to secure your band. I looped one handle under a very heavy coffee table but, if you don't have that option you can use an ankle weight or use a cable machine at the gym.

The key to this move is to focus on the side squat first, sitting back into the heel, and then taking your time to get your balance as you lift the other leg in front of you. The weight should remain in the standing leg throughout the exercise.

Do it right: Secure one end of a band to a sturdy object near the floor and loop the other end around the right foot. Step far enough away that there's light tension on the band. Step out with the left leg into a side squat. Keeping the weight in the left leg, stand up and bring the right foot in from of the body, leg turned out, focusing on the inner thigh. Continue with the squat and leg lift for 10-16 reps before switching sides.