Bodyweight Jump Squats: Jump Your Way To A Lean Body

It is easy to think that only weight training can provide muscle gaining advantages but the truth is bodyweight exercises can provide the same benefits as weights. However, few exercises provide both strength-training advantages along with cardiovascular benefits as well as bodyweight jump squats.

Why You Should Consider Bodyweight Workouts

It is easy to think that weights alone will get you to gain muscle. Magazines and gyms are constantly focused on pushing the weights only approach. However, in order to gain muscle the primary focus is on putting muscle tissue under stress by doing strength training.

One of the primary benefits of using bodyweight workouts is that you can literally exercise in any setting at any time without having to take equipment with you. Because most of us do not have a gym at home it becomes hard to either purchase equipment or drive to a local gym to get in shape. With body weight exercises you can easily workout at home, in your bedroom, or in a hotel room while on vacation.

Another advantage to doing these types of workouts is a financial factor. With the state of the economy it is difficult for most of us to spend on a luxury like buying exercise equipment or a gym membership. When it comes to making financial choices it is hard to spend on these things and this is why bodyweight exercises are convenient as it is practically free.

Doing exercises using only your body works well as these types of workouts build not only muscle but athleticism as well. For a great example of the benefits of these types of workouts simply look at a gymnast. Gymnast's bodies are built strictly using just their bodies and you cannot deny that they look lean, muscular and athletic.

Bodyweight Jump Squats- Jump Your Way To A Fit Body

This variation of a traditional jump squat is one of the best exercises that not only builds muscle but also burns fat and builds athleticism, especially when it is part of a legs workout.

To properly perform this exercise do the following:

• Begin in a standing position with your knees slightly bent and feet at shoulder width apart.
• Come down and lower your hips in to a squat position making sure your thighs are parallel to floor.
• Make sure your knees form a 90-degree angle with your knees in line with your ankles.
• Jump up as high as you can in an explosive motion.
• Land with the balls of your feet followed by your heels.
• Make sure you land with a slight bend in your knees

Repeat the movement/ jump without stopping in one continuous motion.

For best results this exercise should be 3 to 4 sets of 10 repetitions per set and resting one minute in between sets. By keeping the rest period between sets short you will elevate your heart rate and have it pumping and getting the cardio benefits that come along with it.

How To Make It A Part Of Your Workout For Best Results

To get the most out of this exercise and make it part of your muscle building and fat burning workout do the following routine.

• Bodyweight Squats (3-4 sets of 10 repetitions)
• Bodyweight Lunges (3-4 sets of 10 repetitions)
• Run sprints for 15 minutes (alternate between a one minute sprint and two minute rest period)
• Bodyweight Jump Squats (3-4 sets of 10 repetitions)

Perform this workout once a week and you will find yourself with a great looking lower body and burning fat at the same time.

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