HowtoDoaCurtsyLungetheRightWayMedicallyreviewedbyJakeTipane,CPT—WrittenbyNicoleDavisonFebruary24,2020MusclesworkedBenefitsHow-toInyourroutineCommonmistakesWithweightsVariationstotryTakeawayShareonPinterestAlthoughsquats,deadlifts,andlungesareconsideredthe“kings”oflegexercises,there’sanothermoveyoushouldn’tneglect:curtsylunges.Thisexerciserecruitsandemphasizesmusclesthatareoftenunderutilized,makingitagreatadditiontoyourworkoutroutine.Readonforthewhyandhow.Whatmusclesareworked?Thecurtsylungetargetsthemainmusclesinvolvedinalunge—thequadsandglutes—butalsoengagessomeadditionalmovers.Whenyourlegcrossesbackandaround,thegluteusmediusonthestationarylegfiresup.Thehipabductors—whichbringyourthighstogether—arealsoengaged.What’sthepoint?Thecurtsylungeisgreatforbuildinglowerbodystrengthandstability.Thegluteusmediusisanimportantmuscleforstability,butitisn’tdirectlytargetedinstandardsquatsandlunges,sostrengtheningitisoftenoverlooked.Thegluteusmediusisoftenunderactive,makingstrengtheningexerciseslikethecurtsylungeevenmoreimportant.Curtsylungesalsoaidinstrengtheningtheinnerthigharea.Howdoyoudoit?ShareonPinterestFollowthesestepstodoacurtsylungewithproperform:Standwithyourfeetshoulder-widthapartandyourarmsdownatyoursides.Puttingyourweightintoyourrightfoot,stepbackandaroundwithyourleftfoot—almostasifyou’recurtsying—allowingyourarmstocomeupinfrontofyoutoacomfortableposition.Ensurethatyourcheststaysproud.Stoplungingwhenyourrightthighisparalleltotheground.Begintostraightenyourrightleg,pushingupthroughyourheel,andreturningyourleftfoottothestartingposition.Repeatsteps1–3forthedesirednumberofreps,thenswitchlegs.Startwith3setsof10–12repsusingonlyyourbodyweight.Whenthisbecomeseasy,tryaddingweight(detailedbelow)tokeepprogressing.Howcanyouaddthistoyourroutine?Curtsylungescanbereservedforlegdayoraddedtoafull-bodyworkout—it’suptoyou!Incorporatethismoveafterotherprimarylegexercises,likesquatsandstandardlunges,tohitthosemusclesinadifferentway.Asalways,ensurethatyou’reproperlywarmedupbeforestrengthtra