Carrie Underwood [1] is known for her powerful country singing voice, dozens of awards, and several multiplatinum albums. But aside from her unmistakable talent, Carrie is also known for being in pretty good shape [2]. Specifically, her legs — whether on the red carpet or performing on stage [3], Carrie shows off her toned calves and quads and proves you are never too busy to stay in shape.
But while you may think the secret to her strong legs is something complicated and strenuous, think again. Carrie shared her favourite leg exercises with POPSUGAR at the CALIA by Carrie Underwood [4] Summer House event in East Hampton on July 16, and they're so basic, you can do them yourself at home. But that doesn't mean they're easy. Keep reading to see how to do each move. This isn't a full workout; rather, feel free to incorporate these classic moves into your next leg-day workout [5].
Air Squat
- Stand with your feet slightly wider than your shoulders, feet parallel or toes slightly turned out.
- Bend your knees, lowering your hips deeply. Bring your thighs parallel to the floor and bend your elbows, keeping weight back in your heels.
- Rise back up, straightening your legs completely, squeezing your glutes at the top of the movement to get the most out of the exercise.
- This counts as one rep.
Jump Squat
- Start in a squat with your arms by your sides.
- Swing your arms to the ceiling and jump.
- Land quietly as you return to the squat position. This completes one rep.
Alternating Forward Lunge
- Stand tall with your feet hips-width distance apart. Bend your elbows at your sides, or rest your hands on the hips.
- Step forward with your right foot, lowering your hips until both knees are bent at about a 90-degree angle. Keep your front knee directly above your ankle, and lower your left knee to just above the floor.
- Keep the weight in your heels as you push back to the starting position.
- Repeat stepping with the left foot this time, completing one rep.
Curtsy Lunge
- Start from standing and step your left leg behind you and to the right so your thighs cross, bending both knees as if you were curtsying. Make sure your front knee is aligned with your front ankle.
- Return to standing, and switch sides to complete one rep.
Step-Up
- Find a step or a bench that, when you place your foot squarely on it, your knee is at a 90-degree angle or larger.
- Step up with your right foot, then your left, bringing both feet completely onto the bench.
- To return to the starting position, lead with your right foot to step down to the floor, then your left, until ending with both feet on the ground.
- For more of a challenge, perform step-ups while holding a dumbbell in each hand.