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Exercise guide

Chair Squat

How to do the Chair Squat with correct form, the muscles it works, and where it fits a training plan you actually stick to.

CompoundMachineBeginnerPush
Primary muscles

Quads

Secondary

Calves, Glutes, Hamstrings

Equipment

Machine

Step by step

How to do the Chair Squat

  1. 1

    To begin, first set the bar to a position that best matches your height. Once the bar is loaded, step under it and position it across the back of your shoulders.

  2. 2

    Take the bar with your hands facing forward, unlock it and lift it off the rack by extending your legs.

  3. 3

    Move your feet forward about 18 inches in front of the bar. Position your legs using a shoulder width stance with the toes slightly pointed out. Look forward at all times and maintain a neutral or slightly arched spine. This will be your starting position.

  4. 4

    Slowly lower the bar by bending the knees as you maintain a straight posture with the head up. Continue down until the angle between the upper and lower leg breaks 90 degrees.

  5. 5

    Begin to raise the bar as you exhale by pushing the floor with the heels of your feet, extending the knees and returning to the starting position.

  6. 6

    Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

In Ascend

Log it, see it on your body.

Every Chair Squat set you log feeds Ascend's anatomy heatmap — so your quads volume is visible at a glance — and counts toward your bodyweight-strength tier.

Related

More quads exercises

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