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COMBINATION
LEG CIRCUIT
This session is designed to work all muscle groups
of your lower body, as an endurance / toning circuit and also to increase the heart rate sufficiently to provide you with a sweat.
Aim to work at a fast comfortable pace within your own limits, taking minimal rest between the different exercises. This circuit is only suitable for persons used to weights.
Use the following table as a guide to the amount of reps, sets and rest time for each exercise.
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LEVEL
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SET 1
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SET 2
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SET 3
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SET 4
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REPS
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REST
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REPS
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REST
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REPS
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REST
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REPS
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REST
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INTERMEDIATE
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12-15
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30 SEC
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10-15
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30 SEC
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-
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-
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-
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-
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ADVANCED
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15-20
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20 SEC
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15-20
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20 SEC
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12-15
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20 SEC
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ATHLETIC
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20-25
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10 SEC
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20-25
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10 SEC
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15 -20
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15 SEC
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15-20
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15 SEC
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WARM UP AND STRETCH
PRIOR TO DOING THIS CIRCUIT
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Ski
Jumps - Aim to stay in a
squatted position whilst jumping first 90° to the left, then back to
the centre, then 90° to the right, finishing back at the centre, this
will be one repetition. This exercise is very hard and you may wish to
reduce the amount of reps by as much as 50%. As you get adapted to the
exercise, you can increase the amount of reps that you perform. |
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Machine
Squat - Avoid locking your legs out
throughout the exercise, and also lowering yourself down below a 90° angle at your knee. If accustomed to weights, try and change your foot
position so that your feet face outwards on some of the sets. |
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Rear
Leg Raised Lunge - Rest one
foot on a raised platform, with your laces facing downwards. Keep your
knee in line with the toes on the other foot, lower yourself down, keeping
your back straight. Made harder if holding weights, or if working on a non-secure platform such as a Bosu or Swiss Ball. |
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Step Box Jump onto a
secure platform taking off and landing on both feet. Use your arms for
balance and gaining height. The fitter and more confident you become with
this exercise, the further you will be able to jump onto the box, and also
to the side. This is a very hard exercise, and as such you may want to
reduce the repetitions by 50%. |
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Seated
Leg Extension - Avoid locking the
legs out, perform in a smooth motion keeping your back firmly in the seat.
You may wish to work one leg at a time, if you do this, make sure you use
a suitable weight. |
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Abductor
Machine ,
use a suitable weight, aiming to hold the legs wide for 2 - 3 seconds before
lowering under control and repeating.
You should always warm the inner and outer thigh muscles prior to performing this exercises, giving them a good stretch to avoid any injury. |
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Pulsing
Squat - Perform in small
movements, stay in a squatted position and pulse for 3 pulses intermediates,
4 pulses advanced and 5 pulses athletic. The exercise can be made harder
by using a suitable weight. Remember to come up fully after each set of
pulsing, as this will help prevent your legs from becoming totally lactic.
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Hamstring
Curl Machine. Use a suitable weight and perform smooth reps. Avoid pushing
yourself on this exercise, as most people's hamstrings will tend to be
tight, and can easily be damaged. |
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1
Leg Squat Place one foot
on a secure platform, keeping the other leg at the side. Lower yourself
down, whilst holding onto a chair or wall for support. Avoid going lower
than 90° and taking your knee over your toes. Made harder with weights.
If you have no platform, keep one knee a few inches higher than the other leg, lowering down under control, to keep that foot off the floor. |
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Adductor
Machine,
use a suitable weight, aiming to hold the legs together for 2 - 3 seconds
before relaxing under control and repeating.
You should always warm the inner and outer thigh muscles prior to performing this exercises, giving them a good stretch to avoid any injury. |
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Standing Squat. Using a suitable
weight, either barbell or dumbbell, lower yourself down, with a straight
back, no lower than 90°. Aim to work with your feet in various positions,
try feet together, feet wide, feet facing in and feet facing out.
If using a barbell across your neck, wrap a towel around the bar to protect yourself.
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Raised Squat. Place one foot on a raised secure platform, with your other
foot out to your side on the floor. Keeping your back straight lower downwards,
avoiding taking your knees over your toes. Repeat the reps both sides. |
The weights that you use, should reflect on your current
strength levels. For safety reasons, start with a light weight establishing
good technique before increasing gradually.
If you find that you're struggling to lift the weight during the first set, then you have probably started with a weight that is too heavy, so I would advise to lower the weight.
At the end of each set, take in some fluid, and have
a minimum of two minutes rest before performing the next session. Keep
warm with either a sweatshirt or towel, and if necessary stretch your lower
body.
When working the large muscle groups in the lower
body, your blood is pumped to those working muscles, this can result in
slight dizziness. If you feel this at any time during the circuit, stop
the exercise and lay down, with your feet raised up. Do not carry on if
you are still feeling dizzy after a few minutes, or if you have a further
dizzy spell.
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