Build lower-body strength and muscle with these resistance band legs workouts – recommended by personal trainers Omar Mansour and Luiz Silva.
Resistance bands are ultra-versatile tools, providing a unique form of resistance that can take your leg workouts to the next level. By incorporating resistance bands into your routine, you’ll challenge your muscles in new ways, leading to improved strength, endurance, and definition in your legs.
Whether you’re looking to build bigger quads, sculpt your calves, or strengthen your hamstrings, resistance bands offer a convenient and effective solution.
Resistance bands provide variable resistance, meaning that the further you stretch the band, the more resistance it provides. This progressive resistance challenges your muscles throughout the entire range of motion, leading to muscle growth and strength gains.
Using resistance bands also requires your muscles to work against the resistance for a longer period of time compared to traditional weights. This increased time under tension can stimulate muscle growth and development.
They also offer a low-impact form of resistance training, which is gentler on your joints compared to heavy weights. This can be especially beneficial for individuals with joint issues or those recovering from injuries.
Resistance bands are portable, easy to store, and can be used anywhere, making them a convenient option for building muscle at home or while traveling. With resistance bands, there are no excuses for skipping a workout.
So grab a pair of the best resistance bands and get ready to feel the burn.
Resistance band legs workout from PT Omar Mansour
This resistance band legs workout was put together by online coach Omar Mansour.
Work your way through each exercise, using the timings below as a guide:
Reps: 30-45 secs
Sets: 4
Rest: 60 secs
1. Resistance Band Front Squat
2. Resistance Band Reverse Lunge
3. Resistance Band Good Morning
4. Resistance Band Kickback
5. Resistance Band Side Step
Warm-up
Before completing this legs workout, I recommend completing this resistance bands warm-up routine to prime your muscles and get your heart rate up before moving on to the more intense, strength-building moves. Diving in without warming up can lead to a less effective strength workout – or even injury – so it’s important to make time for this first.
![Man performing banded front squat](https://drgregmohr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1717509748_84_Our-Favourite-Resistance-Band-Legs-Workouts-For-Lower-Body-Development.jpg)
1. Resistance band front squat
How to do it:
- Stand on the band with your feet shoulder-width apart.
- Rack the band under your chin, palms facing the sky and elbows facing forward.
- Push your hips back and bend your knees, performing a front squat while keeping your elbows high throughout and your weight over your heels.
![Man performing a banded reverse lunge - resistance band leg exercises](https://drgregmohr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1717509749_486_Our-Favourite-Resistance-Band-Legs-Workouts-For-Lower-Body-Development.jpg)
![Man performing end of a banded reverse lunge - resistance band leg exercises](https://drgregmohr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1717509750_754_Our-Favourite-Resistance-Band-Legs-Workouts-For-Lower-Body-Development.jpg)
2. Resistance band reverse lunge
How to do it:
- While standing, loop the resistance band around your right foot and around your neck.
- Keeping your upper body tall, step backward with your left foot and lower your body until both knees are bent at least 90 degrees.
- Push yourself back to starting position.
- Repeat with your other leg.
![PT demonstrating a resistance band good morning exercise](https://drgregmohr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Our-Favourite-Resistance-Band-Legs-Workouts-For-Lower-Body-Development.png)
![PT demonstrating a resistance band good morning exercise](https://drgregmohr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1717509751_421_Our-Favourite-Resistance-Band-Legs-Workouts-For-Lower-Body-Development.png)
3. Resistance band good morning
How to do it:
- Loop a resistance band around your neck, allowing the band to rest on the top of your shoulders. Loop the other end of the band under your feet to create tension. Start with a very slight bend in your knees.
- Roll your shoulders back, drawing your shoulder blades toward your spine to engage your upper back. Your shoulders should remain pulled back like this throughout the exercise.
- Push your hips back as your torso naturally begins to lean forward toward the floor, keeping your legs relatively straight.
- Once your torso is horizontal, squeeze your glutes forward and return to the standing position.
![Man performing a banded kickback - resistance band leg exercises](https://drgregmohr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1717509752_534_Our-Favourite-Resistance-Band-Legs-Workouts-For-Lower-Body-Development.jpg)
![Man performing end of a banded kickback - resistance band leg exercises](https://drgregmohr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1717509753_705_Our-Favourite-Resistance-Band-Legs-Workouts-For-Lower-Body-Development.jpg)
4. Resistance band kickback
How to do it:
- Start on your hands and knees. Have one end of the band evenly distributed under both hands. Loop the other end of the band around the sole of your foot.
- Keep your hips square and core engaged as you extend your leg back.
- Return to the start.
- Repeat with the other foot.
![Man performing banded side steps - resistance band leg exercises](https://drgregmohr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1717509753_15_Our-Favourite-Resistance-Band-Legs-Workouts-For-Lower-Body-Development.jpg)
![Man performing banded side steps - resistance band leg exercises](https://drgregmohr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1717509753_864_Our-Favourite-Resistance-Band-Legs-Workouts-For-Lower-Body-Development.jpg)
5. Resistance band side step
How to do it:
- Place your feet slightly apart from each other, looping one end of the resistance band underneath your feet and holding onto the other end. Form an X-shape by crossing the band in the middle.
- Pull the band upwards to increase the tension.
- Take small side steps one way, then the other.
I recommend following your resistance band legs workout with some stretching exercises for best results.
Resistance band legs workout from PT Luiz Silva
This alternative resistance band legs workout is recommended by Luiz Silva, head of fitness and wellbeing and personal trainer at Castle Royle.
- Beginner: 20-30 second sets + 60 seconds rest (3 sets per exercise)
- Intermediate: 30-40 second sets + 60 seconds rest (3-4 sets)
- Advanced: 45-60 second sets + 30-40 seconds rest (4-5 sets)
I’d recommend doing mobility drills and warm-ups before performing these exercises.
![](https://drgregmohr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1713171907_574_Resistance-Band-Legs-Workout.jpg)
![](https://drgregmohr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1713171908_806_Resistance-Band-Legs-Workout.jpg)
1. Resistance band squat press
How to do it:
- Stand on the band with your feet shoulder-width apart.
- Hold the band with your hands just outside shoulder width, and the elbows tucked under the hands.
- Push your hips back and down, bend the knees and let them track forward in line with the mid-toes. Keep your abdominal/core muscles braced tight. Feel your weight go over your heels.
- Start going up by driving the heels into the floor and squeezing the glutes. At the same time, push the arms overhead to further stretch the band until the arms are almost fully extended.
![](https://drgregmohr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1713171909_317_Resistance-Band-Legs-Workout.jpg)
![](https://drgregmohr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1713171910_931_Resistance-Band-Legs-Workout.jpg)
2. Resistance band raised reverse lunge
How to do it:
- While standing, loop the resistance band around your right foot and right hand. Raise your right arm straight above your head.
- Keeping your upper body tall, step backward with your left foot and lower your body until both knees are bent at least 90 degrees.
- Push yourself back to starting position.
- Once a set is completed in the right leg, perform a set with your left leg.
![](https://drgregmohr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1713171911_813_Resistance-Band-Legs-Workout.jpg)
![](https://drgregmohr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1713171912_134_Resistance-Band-Legs-Workout.jpg)
3. Resistance band single-leg deadlift
How to do it:
- Loop a resistance band around your neck, allowing the band to rest on the top of your shoulders. Loop the other end of the band under your right foot to create tension. Start with a very slight bend in your knees.
- Roll your shoulders back, drawing your shoulder blades toward your spine to engage your upper back.
- Lean your chest forward and down while keeping the back straight. At the same time, bring your left foot off the floor, push it back and straighten it, trying to maintain a straight line from head to foot. Continue the movement until the chest is parallel to the floor, or until the right hamstring starts to stretch.
- Once you reach the lowest point, return to the start position while trying to maintain balance.
![](https://drgregmohr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1713171913_282_Resistance-Band-Legs-Workout.jpg)
![](https://drgregmohr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1713171914_635_Resistance-Band-Legs-Workout.jpg)
4. Resistance band plank kickback
How to do it:
- Start on your hands and toes, with your back long, strong and straight. Your hands should be under your shoulders and the band should be evenly distributed under both hands. Loop the other end of the band around the sole of your foot.
- Tuck the knee in towards the gap formed between your arms, then push your foot backwards until your leg is straight.
- Return to the start.
- Once a set is completed, repeat the move with the other leg.
![](https://drgregmohr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1713171915_281_Resistance-Band-Legs-Workout.jpg)
![](https://drgregmohr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1713171915_348_Resistance-Band-Legs-Workout.jpg)
5. Resistance band side step with upright row hold
How to do it:
- Place your feet slightly apart from each other, looping one end of the resistance band underneath your feet and holding onto the other end. Form an X-shape by crossing the band in the middle;
- Pull the band upwards and outwards until your elbows are shoulder high and you can feel a slight tension or pinch in between the shoulder blades. Hold this hand position.
- Take small side steps one way, then the other.
Related content:
- How to use resistance bands
- Dumbbells vs resistance bands
- Resistance band triceps workout
The post Our Favourite Resistance Band Legs Workouts For Lower-Body Development appeared first on Men's Fitness.