Cossack squat
Also called Side-to-side squat, Lateral squat
The cossack squat is a wide side squat. You shift your weight onto one leg and sink down while the other leg stays straight with the toes up. It trains your quads and glutes, with help from your hamstrings, calves and abs, and it opens up your hips and the insides of your legs. Keep the heel of the bending leg flat and your chest tall. Go only as deep as feels comfortable and hold a support at first. Do both sides equally.
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How to do it
- Stand with your feet wide apart, toes turned out slightly.
- Shift your weight onto one leg and bend that knee.
- Sink down with your heel flat, the other leg straight and its toes up.
- Press back up to the middle, then sink toward the other side.
Then repeat on the other side.
Form tips
- Wide stance, toes turned slightly out.
- Shift onto one leg and sink down, heel flat.
- Other leg straight with toes up, chest tall.
Common mistake
- Folding forward instead of shifting your hips sideways.