In the series “Our personal trainer“The Berlin fitness coach Sebastian Grüner helps us to become stronger, healthier and more beautiful. This article is part of TIME on the weekendissue 43/2024.
Requirement: The handshake squats are again a partner exercise. Unlike the lift from behind, it’s not a problem if there is a big difference in weight between you and your partner. Both of you should be able to do the classic squat.
This is how it works: You stand opposite your partner, take a step to the right and put both of your feet slightly outwards. In this basic position, your left hand grabs your partner’s left hand for a handshake. Now hold the handshake and both squat at the same time. This means that you push your bottom towards the floor, stay upright in your upper body and push your knees out at least as far as your feet. Please do this so that your buttocks ideally hover just below knee height. Look forward or at your partner, but not up or down. As you each come up with your bottom in a fluid movement, increase the pressure in the handshake and jump to the left, while your partner jumps in the opposite direction as they come up (also to the left, as seen from themselves). Now your right hand grabs your partner’s right hand for a handshake and the next pair of squats follow. The jump goes back to the original basic position.
