A well-toned lower body will go a long way in the physique department and make you the envy of many others. Adding a few simple leg exercises to your regular routine will make all the difference in the world and cause others to take a second look.

Squats work really well for building overall muscle mass in the legs and glutes. You can do them with or without the use of weights and they will be effective either way. To perform squats correctly, simply stand up straight with your feet together and hands at your sides. Squat, bending your knees so that they are at a 90 degree angle. Lower your body toward the floor. Once you have reached the 90 degree mark, lift your body again to a standing position. Adding a weight bar and weights will make this exercise more difficult to do. Place the weight bar on your shoulders and perform the exercise as described above.

Leg presses are another great exercise for achieving more muscle mass in the lower body. This time you will use a machine. Here your back will be supported. You won’t have to worry about not being able to hold your weight while a barbell is resting across your shoulders. Your legs will receive the same hard work out and the results will be the same. This is important because some people simply aren’t able to squat. Those with long legs often have balancing and depth issues while others have previously sustained injuries that make performing squats impossible.

When executing any type of leg exercise, take care of your knees. Proper execution is paramount to avoiding injury. Once your knees are completely blown you will no longer be able to do the leg exercises that will keep your lower body toned and curvy. When completing the two exercises described above, be sure to always keep your knees slightly bent. While it is tempting to lock out your knees at the top of a rep, doing so over a long period of time can cause knee problems because the weight is then being supported incorrectly. Doing the exercises correctly makes all the difference in the world and good knees will enable you to continue on for a long time.