Side Lunge Form Pointers

[Rose11]

Hello Cathe and educated crowd. I'm glad we're focusing once again on important fitness subjects and that we all agree we should ignore negative posts and posters. Well now to my question....

I'm on a S&H rotation this month and for some reason I feel that I'm not doing side lunges right. Although I've seen the exercise before on fitness magazines not until S&H Legs & Shoulders I thought I could benefit from it. I don't know how to do this exercise correctly. I need form pointers. I already checked the form pointers section here, but I didn't see the side lunge. Any help will be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Cathe Friedrich]

Hi Rose! There are slight variations to the way I have seen these performed. I like to keep my forward alignment while doing them. Therefore, as you step out wide to the side keep the toes of both legs forward. Also keep the hips squared to the front. On the lunge leg, position your body so that it feels as if you are doing a one legged squat(sitting down and back into the lunge so as to keep the lunge knee from riding too far over the big toe). The straight leg shold have nice extention so that you really recruit your adductors (inner thigh muscles). Hope this helps!

 

[Rachel_Lam]

I have problems with the side lunges too...don't like them much. I'm not so sure my knees dont go pass my toes or if it's ok if they do or if they should be pointing forward or to the side...lol. But those plie squats sure rule! It looks cool to be lifting that DB in front of the mirror! Hahaha.

 

[Rose11]

Thank you Cathe! You have no idea how helpful these form pointers are. My form was way off. I'm going to practice side lunges without weights before doing L&S again and when I do the video next week I won't use heavy weights until I master them.

 

[starlight6]

Cathe I must say this is the first time I have understood the proper form for side lunges. So I guess I'm going to have to try them again! (Darn!)
Seriously, thanks so much, it really has helped. You have a true gift.
Ruth