• FEW EXERCISES ARE AS impressive as the pistol squat. In one move, you can work strength, balance, and flexibility. “Any unilateral move, working one side or one leg at a time, helps you reach your full strength potential,” notes Megan Dahlman, CSCS, owner of Dahlman Elite Training Systems in Aurora, OR, and creator of strong-mommas.com. Pistol squats really challenge the quads, but they also work the glutes, inner and outer thighs, and even the small ankle joint muscles; a strong core helps you put it all together, adds Dahlman.
A full pistol squat—one leg forward and parallel to the floor— is great for advanced exercisers who have mastered the stability and balance elements, says Dahlman. For the rest of us, a modified version done on a bench or plyo…
