Leg Toning Exercises

The best leg toning exercises are simple movements that can be done in the comfort of your own home. You don't have to buy a membership to a gym or use special machines to sculpt attractive legs. As long as you're willing to work for that burning muscle feeling, you can perform leg toning exercises anywhere.

Leg Toning Exercise Basics
Basic leg toning exercises work isolated areas of your legs to help tighten and sculpt muscle while burning away fat. For the best results, it's important to lightly stretch your muscles before using the exercises and deeply stretch your muscles after finishing. Stretching helps relax and elongate muscles to prevent pain or injury.

Lunges
Lunges are tiresome but extremely effective leg toning exercises. Start in a standing position. Take a step forward with your left leg and bend your knee. Keep your left foot on the ground and place your right knee against the ground. Stand up and repeat the process stepping with your right leg and placing your left knee on the ground. Keep walking forward in this manner.

Lunges target the front of the thigh, back of the thigh, the calves and the buttocks. They also provide a small workout for the abdomen and lower back. They are not recommended for people with knee problems.

Squats
Squats are a killer exercise that works wonders for toning legs. If you have great balance, you can do squats without help. If you have poor balance, you may want to stand in front of a chair or counter you can hold onto. Keep your upper body straight and plant your feet straight forward. Bend your legs to squat, as if you were sitting in a chair, keeping your feet flat against the ground. Hold the squat for one or two seconds and stand back up.

Repeat the exercise process until your legs are too tired to squat. Squats work the entire lower body, including the legs, buttocks, lower stomach and lower back. They are not recommended for people with weak hips or knees.

Leg Lifts
Leg lifts help target the inner and outer thigh muscles. Leg lifts can be done standing up or lying down and basically entail lifting your leg to the side. To perform a standing leg lift, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Use a wall, chair or counter to hold onto if you have poor balance. Keep your legs straight, but do not lock your knees. Lift your left leg out and to the side as far as it will go, and then bring it back in. Repeat the process until the left leg becomes tired, and then switch to the right leg.

It's important to keep your foot flexed, not pointed, when doing leg lifts. Flexing the foot tightens the leg muscles and makes them work harder with each leg lift. The exercises are not recommended for people with hip problems.