Bodyweight Reverse Lunge

What you'll gain

• Builds the glutes, quads, and hamstrings through a single-leg pattern.

• Easier on the knees than forward lunges, making it accessible for more users.

• Trains balance and stability without weights.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. 1

   Stand tall with feet hip-width apart and your hands on your hips or at your chest.

2. 2

   Take a long step back with one leg, planting the ball of the back foot down lightly.

3. 3

   Lower the back knee straight down toward the floor while keeping the front shin near vertical.

4. 4

   Drop until the back knee is just above the ground and the front thigh is roughly parallel to the floor.

5. 5

   Drive through the heel of the front foot to push yourself back up to a tall standing position.

6. 6

   Repeat on the same leg for the prescribed reps, then switch sides without losing form.

Common Mistakes

• Stepping back too short, which puts the load on the front knee instead of the front glute.

• Letting the front knee cave inward instead of tracking over the foot.

• Pushing off the back foot instead of driving through the front heel — robs the working leg of work.

• Slamming the back knee into the floor instead of lowering it under control.

About This Exercise

The bodyweight reverse lunge is one of the most balanced single-leg exercises in any program. Stepping back instead of forward shifts more load onto the front-leg glute and reduces stress on the front knee, making it accessible for almost any user. It builds the quads, glutes, and hamstrings while training balance and split-stance control. For app builders, this is a workhorse asset that fits everywhere: beginner leg-day flows, hotel-room workouts, knee-friendly training tracks, and glute-focused programs. It also scales naturally — slow tempo, jump variation, deficit, or loaded with dumbbells. A single clip earns its place across dozens of program templates.

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