These thigh exercises from two personal trainers are great for all fitness levels.

Incorporate them into leg day for a strong lower body.

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She is a featured trainer and face of the at-home fitness app FitOn.

woman sweating in the gym

A former professional dancer, Bree Branker Koegel is a certified personal trainer with additional certifications in in corrective exercise and functional range conditioning mobility. She is a featured trainer and face of the at-home fitness app FitOn.

Jillian Michaels is one of the most recognized fitness trainers in the world.

Oh, and did we mentionthigh exercises also make butt workouts more effective?

Ready to give some extra love to your thighs on leg day?

Woman walking on a treadmill at the gym.

Below, Michaels and Koegel share nine thigh exercises that will strengthen your upper legs.

As with all workouts, form is key for preventing injuries.

Make use of the videos in this article, and head to YouTube if you need more instruction.

Full body female athlete in sportswear using rowing machine during fitness workout in gym.

you’re able to also modify the exercise and not add weight until youve mastered the movement pattern.

Go slowly at first and listen to your body if something feels off.

9 thigh exercises to kick leg day up a notch

1.

Happy woman dancing and listening to music near a green empty wall outdoor in the city.

A former professional dancer, Bree Branker Koegel is a certified personal trainer with additional certifications in in corrective exercise and functional range conditioning mobility. She is a featured trainer and face of the at-home fitness app FitOn.

Start with your feet hip-width apart and a dumbbell in each hand.

verify theres a slight bend in your knees, and your tailbone is tucked.

Lower the weights and your torso, trying to bring your torso parallel to the ground.

Healthy female training in the gym, performing a hip thrust.

The key, Michaels adds, is to keep your back flat.

Then, bring your body back up to the starting position.

it’s possible for you to also make it harder by using heavier weights.

A young black woman doing post-run stretches in the park on the road amidst green grass and trees.

Romanian deadlifts

To do aRomanian deadlift, youll need a barbell.

With hands hip-width apart, grab the barbell with both hands while keeping a bend in your knees.

Stand up tall while keeping your tailbone tucked.

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Only go as deep as it’s possible for you to manage into that stretch with a flat back.

Remember, the knees dont move.

They remain in a soft bend throughout the exercise.

Squats

Somegood old squatswill also do the trick.

Lower your hips as low as possible until your thighs are parallel to the floor.

Bulgarian split squats

If you want to take your squats up a notch, try doingBulgarian split squats.

Press out of the squatting front foot to stand, then repeat on the other side.

Jump squats

To get your heart pumpingandgive your thighs some love, Koegel recommends jump squats.

Youll for sure be feeling the burn after a few of these babies.

Lunges

Is it even leg day if you dont dolunges?

To do the OG thigh exercise, stand with your feet hip-width apart.

Step forward with one leg while dropping the back knee an inch from the ground.

Then return to the starting position and repeat with the other leg.

Walking lunges

Spice up your lunges by adding a walking motion into the mix.

Press out of the floor with the front foot to stand, repeat on the other side.

Lateral lunge

The lunges continue.

This time youre doing them side to side to target the inner andouter thighs.

Sit the hips back over the lunging leg.

Press out of the floor with the lunging foot to stand, then repeat on the other side.

To do a pelvic thrust, lay on your back with your knees bent and hip-width apart.

Lift your hips up and squeeze your glutes as tight as possible at the top position.

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