How to Do Sit Squats
Start and end of one clean rep of Sit Squats.
Quick facts
| Primary muscle | Quads |
|---|---|
| Secondary muscles | Glutes, Hamstrings |
| Equipment | Bodyweight |
| Category | Stretching |
How to perform Sit Squats
- Stand with your feet shoulder width apart. This will be your starting position.
- Begin the movement by flexing your knees and hips, sitting back with your hips.
- Continue until you have squatted a portion of the way down, but are above parallel, and quickly reverse the motion until you return to the starting position. Repeat for 5-10 repetitions.
Muscles worked
- Quads (primary): extends the knee to drive squats, lunges and jumps.
- Glutes (secondary): extends and stabilises the hip — the engine behind hinges, squats and sprints.
- Hamstrings (secondary): bends the knee and extends the hip through hinges and pulls.
Sets & reps by goal
| Goal | Sets × reps | Load | Rest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strength | 3–5 × 3–5 | Heavy (~85%+) | 2–3 min |
| Hypertrophy | 3–4 × 8–12 | Moderate (~65–75%) | 60–90 s |
| Endurance | 2–3 × 15–20 | Lighter (~50–60%) | 30–45 s |
As a mobility drill, hold each position for 20–40 seconds (or move slowly for reps) rather than training it to a heavy load.
Form tips
- Keep the knees tracking in line with the toes and push the whole foot into the floor.
- Own the largest range you can control with clean form before you chase extra reps.
- Ease in until you feel mild tension, never pain, and breathe out as you sink a little deeper.
- Control the lowering phase — a 2–3 second descent builds more than dropping the weight.
Common mistakes
- Letting the knees cave inward as you push out of the bottom.
- Cutting the range short to squeeze out extra reps instead of owning each full one.
- Bouncing into the stretch instead of holding it steadily.
Frequently asked questions
What muscles does Sit Squats work?
Sit Squats mainly works the quads, with the glutes, hamstrings helping as secondary movers.
What equipment do I need for Sit Squats?
None — Sit Squats is a bodyweight movement, so you only need your bodyweight and a little space.
How many sets and reps should I do for Sit Squats?
It depends on your goal: about 3–5 sets of 3–5 heavy reps for strength, 3–4 sets of 8–12 for muscle growth, or 2–3 sets of 15–20 for endurance. As a mobility drill, hold each position for 20–40 seconds (or move slowly for reps) rather than training it to a heavy load.
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