Another benefit of doing lunges is that it can help "even out" the muscular imbalances between your legs, by strengthening the weaker side.
In effect, your lower body will be much stronger.
This will also help to improve your strength on squats and other lower body exercises because you eliminate the "weak link" that would otherwise hold back progress.
Again it's all about your fitness level and goal.
Squats
While this may sound as if lunges are more fit for improving your daily functions by challenging and improving your balance, core strength, and toning the legs, but squats are no less useful.
There are many "benefits of squats" as well.
Squats mimic a very important movement we all do daily.
That is sitting down and getting up; the two very fundamental and essential movements in your everyday life.
If you can't do that, you won't be able to use the toilet or sit on a chair.
At least not without help!
But that's not the only thing squats help you do.
They also help you build your leg strength and muscles.
And with slight modifications to your stance, you can focus the work more on either the hamstrings or quads.
It all depends on the "squat variations".
For example, the wider your stance, the more emphasis you put on your adductors or inner thigh muscles when you squat.
And if you want to do more core work to develop your core strength, you can do front squat.
With the front squat, the bar or dumbbell is placed in the front, resting on top of your shoulders. Because of the positioning of the weights, your core has to work a lot more to stabilize your body to maintain proper posture throughout the entire movement.
Here's a video of the front squat below just in case you're interested in learning how to do it correctly.
Another benefit of squats is helping the butt to take shape.
This is the reasons why the 30 Day Squat Challenge is so popular.
So if you have an aesthetic goal of getting a nice tush or backside, squats are great for helping to develop the gluteal muscles.
Or you can also take this Squat Challenge if you really want to transform your backside.
Muscles they Work
There are three main muscles in the glutes (biggest to smallest):
- Maximus
- Medius
- Minimus
The main difference in exercises often leads to this: muscles.
Different muscles they target.