A lot of people find doing barbell squats difficult, awkward, and if working out alone, dangerous. To do barbell squats while working out alone, really you need a power rack, and not everyone has such apparatus. Dumbbell squats, therefore, are an excellent alternative way to get your squats in.
Because of the prevalence of the barbell squat where the weight is balanced along the back of the shoulders, people forget that the squat doesn’t have to be performed in this way. It is perfectly possible to perform a squat with the barbell hanging down in your hands. Or… in this case, dumbbells!
Now – pick your dumbbells up. Place you feet around shoulder width apart or slightly wider. Toes pointed outwards a little. With your arms straight, a dumbbell in each hand held palms inward at either side of your legs, squat down until your thighs are slightly below parallel and then back up.
If gripping heavy dumbbells in this way is a challenge, you may need to work on your grip by doing forearm exercises, or use lifting straps.
Now you know how to do dumbbell squats, you can squat in safety, and you don’t need a power rack!