Michelle Lovitt is a celebrity trainer and the founder of the fitness company Lovitfitness: Curtsy Lunge to Reverse Lunge With Hop
Lovitt likes to mix things up by putting a curtsy lunge and a reverse lunge together into one creative exercise. You can accomplish more in less time with the help of compound movements, engaging a number of major muscle groups simultaneously. This one focuses on your glutes, quads, hamstrings, and inner thighs. It’s a good change of pace if you’re tired of doing bodyweight squats or lunges all the time. This particular combination is a curtsy lunge, a reverse lunge, a hop (bonus!), a reverse lunge, and a repeat.
- Start by standing with your feet about the width of your shoulders apart.
- Step your left foot diagonally behind you and bend both knees to lower into a curtsy lunge.
- Drive through your right heel to stand back up, and bring your left knee back to hover next to your right.
- Then, step your left foot about 2 feet behind you and bend both knees to lower into a reverse lunge, making two 90-degree angles with your legs. In this position, your shoulders should be right over your hips, and your chest should be up straight (not leaning forward or back). Your right shin should be perpendicular to the floor, and your right knee should be above your right ankle. Your core and buttocks should be active.
- To stand up, push through the heel of your right foot and, at the same time, bring your left knee up to your chest and hop on your right foot.
- To do another backward lunge, step your left foot back again.
- To get to the starting position, stand up by pushing through the heel of your right foot.
- Start the next set right away by doing a curtsy lunge on the same leg.
Reps: Lovitt says that she likes to do 12 to 15 reps on one leg and then switch to the other leg. Do 2 sets on each side as a whole.
