The squat exercise has many different variations, and not all of them are the classic image that people get of some huge guy with chalk all over his hands trying to squat down with about 800,000 pounds of metal on his shoulders!

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Dumbbell Squats

When doing the dumbbell squat, you have many advantages over doing the classic barbell squat. For one, since the dumbbells are held down at your sides rather than having a barbell on your shoulders, you can focus on the exercise itself, rather than trying to balance a weighted barbell. Also, since the added resistance (the dumbbells) hangs down at your sides, it can be easier for novice exercisers to keep their head up and their back erect, both critical factors for doing a safe and effective squat of any kind.

When doing the dumbbell squat - as with all squats - be sure that when you squat down, your knees do not travel out in front of your toes. Your feet should be at least shoulder width apart and pointed straight forward, rather than angled out or in.Related Downloads:
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Weight Loss Keeping your head up allowing the straight, but natural curve of your back, squat down all the way until your thighs are parallel to the ground, pause for one full second, and then push up through your thighs to a full standing position before doing the next repetition.

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