Why do squats feel so good? Fitness Nirvana Awaits
Have you ever done a squat and just felt good? Like, all your worries disappeared and everything was right in the world?
Well, it’s not just in your head! Squats actually have some pretty incredible benefits that can improve your overall fitness, mood, and more.
It makes you wonder…why do squats feel so good?
So if you’re looking for a way to feel good instantly (and get some awesome fitness benefits), squats are the way to go!
Keep reading to learn more about why squats feel so good and how you can start incorporating them into your own routine.
Why do squats feel so good?
There are a few reasons why squats feel so good. First of all, when you squat, you’re working a lot of different muscles at once, which includes your quads, hamstrings, glutes, and core. All of these muscles are important for stability and movement, so when you work them all at once, it feels great! It’s like giving your whole body a big hug. Another reason why squats feel so good is that they release endorphins. Endorphins are hormones that are released by your brain in response to pain or stress. They act as natural painkillers and can also produce a sense of euphoria. So when you do a challenging squat workout, your brain responds by releasing endorphins. This is why people often say they feel a “runner’s high” after a long run or hard workout. It’s the endorphins at work! Finally, squats can simply make you feel more confident. When you have strong, toned legs, it shows! And when you feel good about your appearance, it’s natural to want to show off your hard work.
So next time you’re feeling down, try doing a few squats. You might just find that fitness nirvana you’ve been searching for!
They are satisfying
When you finally complete that last challenging set of squats, your body releases a flood of feel-good chemicals. These include:
Endorphins – are hormones that have mood-boosting and pain-relieving effects. Endorphins are often released during exercise, and they can help to improve your mood and make you feel more positive. Additionally, endorphins can help to reduce pain perception, which means that they can make you feel less sore after a workout.
Serotonin – is a neurotransmitter that plays a role in regulating your mood, sleep, and appetite. A boost in serotonin can help to improve your mood and overall sense of well-being which can lead to a more positive outlook on life.
Dopamine – is another neurotransmitter that helps to regulate your mood and motivation. A boost in dopamine can improve your focus and help you to feel more motivated.
Testosterone – is a hormone that promotes muscle growth that can help you to build strength and improve your overall physical appearance.
Hormones – a hormone that helps repair and build muscle tissue which is important for post-workout recovery that can help you to feel less sore after a workout.
Adrenaline – is a hormone that is released in response to stress or danger. It can help to improve your focus and give you a boost of energy which can be helpful during a workout.
In short, these chemicals make you feel amazing! They can help reduce pain, improve mood, and promote muscle growth. So it’s no wonder that squats feel so good.
Muscle pump
Another reason why squats feel so good is the “muscle pump.” This is the feeling of your muscles swelling and becoming engorged with blood after a strenuous workout.
This is caused by an increase in blood flow to your muscles, which delivers oxygen and nutrients that are essential for muscle growth and repair.
The muscle pump can also help to reduce muscle soreness and improve range of motion.
Not only does the muscle pump feel good, but it also has some serious benefits for your health and fitness, which are sure to make squats feel even better!
So if you’re looking for a way to feel good and improve your workout results, squats are the way to go!
Confidence booster
Squats can simply make you feel more confident. When you have strong, toned legs, it shows! Plus, when you feel good about your appearance, it’s natural to want to show off your hard work.
The feeling of accomplishment that comes with completing a tough squat workout can also boost your confidence. When you know you can push yourself and reach your goals, it’s empowering.
During the squat exercise, endorphins (as previously stated) are created, which might lead to feelings of confidence and self-esteem.
This increased confidence can lead to all sorts of positive benefits in your life, from improved relationships to better career opportunities. Not that it’s all down to squats but better fitness confidence can only help.
So if you’re looking for a way to feel better about yourself, squats are a great place to start!
Related: Why Do Some People Skip Leg Day? Every Possible Reason Why It’s Avoided
Your central nervous system
Your central nervous system (CNS) is responsible for sending signals to your muscles telling them when to contract. When you squat, your CNS has to work hard to send signals to your muscles telling them when to contract.
When you do any type of resistance training, your CNS has to work hard. This is why you might feel tired after a workout. However, the more you train, the more efficient your CNS becomes at sending signals to your muscles.
This improved efficiency can lead to better workout results and a reduction in muscle soreness. So if you’re looking for a way to improve your workout results and reduce muscle soreness, squats are a great choice!
This increased activity can lead to a feeling of euphoria or “runner’s high” because your CNS is releasing endorphins, which act as natural painkillers and can produce a sense of euphoria.
Squats work a lot of muscles at once
One of the reasons squats feel so good is because they work a lot of muscles at once. When you squat, you’re not just working your legs – you’re also working your core, back, and arms.
This means that you’re getting a full-body workout in one exercise, which can be very efficient and satisfying.
Squats are a compound exercise, which means they involve multiple joints and work several muscles at the same time. This is in contrast to isolation exercises, which only work one muscle or one joint at a time.
Compound exercises are often considered to be more effective than isolation exercises because they allow you to move more weight and produce more force.
They also tend to be more functional, meaning they better mimic the types of movements you do in everyday life. This can make them more effective at improving your overall fitness and helping you to move more easily in your daily life.
Squats improve flexibility and mobility
Squats can also help to improve your flexibility and mobility. This is because when you squat, you’re lengthening and stretching your muscles, which can help improve your flexibility, range of motion, and muscle function in the hips, knees, and ankles.
This can be beneficial if you sit for long periods of time or if you have a sedentary lifestyle. Improving your flexibility and mobility can also help to prevent injuries.
Warming up before you squat will help decrease your chance of being injured.
Start with some light cardio and then do some dynamic stretching, which is a type of stretching that involves moving your body through a range of motion.
Some good dynamic stretches for squats are lunges, leg swings, and high knees. Do 10-15 reps of each stretch before you start your squat workout.
Squats increase strength and power
Another benefit of squats is that they can help to increase your strength and power.
This is because when you squat with heavy weights, you’re putting your muscles under a lot of stress, which forces them to adapt and grow stronger in order to better handle the load.
This can lead to increased strength and power not just in your legs, but in other parts of your body as well.
Giving the muscles in your legs a workout can also help to reduce the risk of injuries in other parts of your body. This is because strong leg muscles help to support your joints, which can reduce the stress on your knees and hips.
If you have strong legs, you’re less likely to experience pain in your knees and hips, and you’re also less likely to suffer from injuries such as tendonitis or shin splints.
Squats improve bone density
Squats can also help to improve your bone density. This is because when you squat with heavy weights, the force exerted on your bones helps to stimulate the growth of new bone cells.
This can lead to stronger bones and a reduced risk of osteoporosis (a condition characterized by weak and fragile bones).
Which can have a big impact on your quality of life as you age.
If you’re looking to improve your bone density, it’s important to squat with heavy weights.
Start with a weight that’s about 60% of your one-rep max, and make sure to squat slowly and with control.
Do 3-5 sets of 6-8 reps, and make sure to rest for 2-3 minutes between sets.
Related: How Do I Make Leg Day More Bearable?
They improve your balance and coordination
Because squats require you to use multiple muscle groups at once, they can also help to improve your balance and coordination.
This is especially beneficial if you play sports or participate in other activities that require good balance and coordination.
Not just that, but improving your balance and coordination can also help to reduce your risk of falling, which is especially important as you age.
If you’re looking to improve your balance and coordination, try doing squats with just your body weight or with light weights.
You can also try doing single-leg squats or pistol squats to really challenge your balance and coordination.
They help with your posture
Squats can also help to improve your posture. This is because when you squat with good form, you’re forced to keep your spine in a neutral position.
This can help to strengthen the muscles in your back and improve your posture, especially if you have a sedentary lifestyle or if you sit for long periods of time.
If you have poor posture, Squats can also help to alleviate back pain. This is because when you have good posture, your muscles and joints are in alignment, which takes the pressure off of your spine.
If you’re looking to improve your posture, make sure to squat with good form.
They make everyday activities easier
Strong legs are important for everyday activities such as walking, climbing stairs, and even sitting down and standing up from a chair.
By doing squats regularly, you can make these activities easier and less tiring, which in the long run can help to improve your quality of life.
One of the great things about squats is that they can be done anywhere, anytime. You don’t need any special equipment or a gym membership to do them – all you need is your own body weight.
This makes them a convenient exercise to do at home or when travelling.
Another benefit of squats is that they can help to reduce your risk of injuries in the future. This is because strong muscles can provide support to the joints and protect them from impact.
Final thoughts…
So squats feel good because they work a lot of muscles at once, release endorphins, and are challenging. Do you think squats feel good? If you do, then let me know in the comments below.
Squats are a great exercise to add to your routine. They’re simple and can be done just about anywhere.
Plus, they’re one of the best exercises for toning your glutes and quads. Start adding some squats into your workouts today and see how great they make you feel!
