The Expert: Aly Teich is the founder of The Sweat Life, a weekly web series and online magazine that provides readers with an insider lens on all aspects of health, fitness and happiness and a fitness expert.
"I'm very much about encouraging people to work out for the sake of feeling their best and living their best lives, and being the happiest they can be," says Teich. "There's nothing wrong with wanting to feel great in your skin and look a certain way — but if you're not happy and feeling good first, you're never going to be happy with how you look. Happiness is the key in terms of energy and longevity and for me."
The Moves: Though Teich believes that it's more important to work out and be healthy in order to achieve happiness and peace of mind, she also explains that doing squats — which target your glutes, quads and core — can benefit your bod in numerous ways.
"A lot of lower back and leg problems come from having weak glutes," she says. "So having glute strength is incredibly important to your overall body strength. You're also working out your core and your quads (the front of the leg), and if you're doing it correctly, you're working pretty much your whole leg. An added plus? Squats make your butt tighter and higher."
Jump squats, which are higher impact, also have the added benefit of utilizing "explosive motion," which Teich says is great for runners and anyone who wants to add a cardio element to their squats. In addition to building lower body strength, they can improve ankle stability and overall heart health.
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