TRX Squat

A squat facing an overhead anchor, hands on suspension handles, using the straps for balance rather than as a pull.

How to do it

  1. Face the overhead anchor and grip one handle in each hand with light tension on the straps.
  2. Stand with the feet about shoulder-width apart and the chest tall.
  3. Sit the hips back and down as if onto a chair, knees tracking over the toes.
  4. Keep the elbows soft so the arms do not pull you out of the squat.
  5. Drive through the feet to stand, hips and knees extending together.
  6. Reset the brace at the top, then repeat without yanking on the handles.

Key technique cue

Don't pull on the straps — stand up with your legs, knees over toes.

Common mistakes

  • Pulling on the straps to stand, which turns a squat into an upper-body row.
  • Letting the knees cave inward instead of tracking over the toes.
  • Rounding the back and looking down as the hips drop.
  • Standing so far from the anchor that the straps go slack and give no balance.

Benefits

  • The handles let beginners keep depth and a tall chest without a squat rack.
  • Loads the quads, glutes, and hamstrings with only bodyweight and straps.
  • Scales from assisted sit-backs to a harder lean by changing foot position.

Progression: from easier to harder

  1. Step 1 You are here
  2. Step 2
  3. Step 3
  4. Step 4
Full “Squat” progression

About the exercise

The TRX squat is a bodyweight squat with two handles for balance. You face the anchor, take a light grip, sit the hips back and down, then stand. The straps are not there to yank you out of the hole; they let you keep the chest up and the knees tracking while you learn depth. Quads drive the stand; glutes and hamstrings share the hip. Leaning into the straps turns it into an upper-body pull, which is a different drill.

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