Inner thigh strength and tone are key to a balanced, sculpted lower body, yet they’re often overlooked. If you’re looking for effective ways to target and tone your inner thighs at home, we’ve got a list of both unique and classic exercises that will help. Here are some inner thigh exercises at home that you’ve probably never heard of, along with familiar ones that still deliver results.
List of Inner Thigh Exercises at Home
- Cossack Squat
- Frog Bridge
- Side-Lying Leg Circles
- Lateral Lunge with Towel Slide
- Squeeze Bridge
- Curtsy Lunge
- Plie Squat with Heel Raise
- Sumo Squat Pulses
- Side-Lying Inner Thigh Lift
- Side Plank with Leg Lift
Let’s dive into each of these exercises to understand how they target the inner thighs and how to perform them.
- Cossack Squat
The Cossack Squat is an advanced variation of a lunge but with a deeper squat to the side. This movement stretches and strengthens your inner thigh muscles while improving flexibility.
- How to do it: Stand with your feet wide apart. Shift your weight to one leg, bending at the knee, while the other leg remains straight. Keep your chest up as you squat low on one side. Push through the heel to return to the starting position and repeat on the other side.
- Frog Bridge
This unique variation of the glute bridge engages the inner thighs and glutes simultaneously, making it a fantastic compound movement.
- How to do it: Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet together. Open your knees out to the sides like a frog’s legs, with soles pressed together. Lift your hips off the ground while squeezing your inner thighs. Lower and repeat.
- Side-Lying Leg Circles
Side-lying leg circles are excellent for isolating and toning the inner thighs. This move also challenges your balance and core.
- How to do it: Lie on one side with your bottom leg straight and your top leg bent. Lift the bottom leg off the ground and trace small circles in the air. Keep your movements slow and controlled, then switch sides.
- Lateral Lunge with Towel Slide
The towel slide introduces a low-friction element to the lateral lunge, forcing your inner thighs to work harder.
- How to do it: Stand on a smooth floor with a towel under one foot. Slide that foot out into a lateral lunge while bending your opposite leg. Pull the towel back in using your inner thigh. Repeat and switch sides.
- Squeeze Bridge
A variation of the traditional bridge, this exercise requires you to squeeze an object, like a pillow or a small ball, between your knees, targeting the inner thighs.
- How to do it: Lie on your back with knees bent and feet flat. Place a pillow or ball between your knees and squeeze as you lift your hips into a bridge position. Lower and repeat.
- Curtsy Lunge
The curtsy lunge not only works your inner thighs but also helps to improve balance and coordination.
- How to do it: Stand tall and step one leg behind the other, bending both knees into a curtsy position. Make sure to squeeze the inner thigh of the front leg. Return to standing and repeat on the other side.
- Plie Squat with Heel Raise
A ballet-inspired move, the plie squat with heel raise effectively engages your inner thighs, calves, and glutes.
- How to do it: Stand with feet wider than shoulder-width apart, toes turned out. Perform a squat and, at the bottom, raise both heels off the floor, balancing on your toes. Lower the heels and repeat the squat.
- Sumo Squat Pulses
A simple yet effective move, sumo squat pulses keep your muscles under constant tension, enhancing the burn in the inner thighs.
- How to do it: Perform a wide-legged squat with toes turned outward. Stay low in the squat position and pulse up and down slightly without standing up completely.
- Side-Lying Inner Thigh Lift
This classic move remains one of the best exercises to specifically isolate the inner thighs.
- How to do it: Lie on your side with your bottom leg straight and your top leg crossed over. Lift the bottom leg as high as you can, feeling the contraction in your inner thigh. Lower and repeat, then switch sides.
- Side Plank with Leg Lift
Adding a leg lift to the side plank increases the intensity, targeting the inner thighs and core simultaneously.
- How to do it: Get into a side plank position. While keeping your body in a straight line, lift your top leg towards the ceiling, focusing on squeezing your inner thigh muscles. Lower the leg and repeat.
Additional Tips for Toning Inner Thighs
- Use Resistance Bands: Adding resistance bands to your exercises can increase intensity and enhance muscle engagement.
- Stay Consistent: Inner thigh exercises should be performed regularly for visible results.
- Combine with Cardio: While strengthening exercises are essential, incorporating cardio can help reduce fat around the thighs for better muscle definition.
By incorporating these unique inner thigh exercises at home into your routine, you can effectively target and tone this often-neglected area. Stay consistent, combine strength and cardio, and enjoy the results!
FAQs
Can flabby inner thighs be toned?
You can start pregnancy eYes, flabby inner thighs can be toned with consistent inner thigh exercises that target the muscles. Combined with a healthy diet and regular cardiovascular exercise, these moves will help reduce fat and build lean muscle, resulting in toned inner thighs.