The move: Hamstring curls

Works on: Hamstring muscles, or back of the thigh, the calf muscles and the core

Tina Burch/Los Angeles Daily News (ENLARGE)
Arms bent at the elbows, knees slightly bent, Richard Simmons prepares to do the Hamstring Curl.
Tina Burch/Los Angeles Daily News (ENLARGE)
After trying to touch your heel to your tush, arms go out as the leg comes down.
Tina Burch/Los Angeles Daily News (ENLARGE)
Dana Miller, who joined the Slimmons studio seven years ago, shows how to do the Hamstring Curl with the help of a chair.
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Give feedback: On this week?s tip; share your exercise tips Related: • Diet & fitness news and tips • Weight loss success stories • More health news Previous tips: The iso-ab plank  Front Raise  Weighted alternating backward lunge with initial knee-up position  Crisscross with 1- or 2-pound weights  Double leg stretch  Active Side Squat with Weights  Bent Forward Row  Wrist Curl  Plie With Upright Rows  Side Waist Toner  Triceps push-up (bench dip) off chair with added weight  Single leg stretch  Inclined Push-Up Off Step  Angled Simultaneous Biceps Curls  Super Man (Back Hyperextension)  Roll-Up With Weights  Hip flexor stretch  Floor Butt Lift  Standing Quadriceps Stretch  Deadlift with shoulder press and rotation  Milk/Detergent Jug Diagonal Lunge With Reach  Isometric Chest Press  The 100  Water Bottle Squat, Curl, Press, Extend and Lateral Descent  Butt Blasters with rotation  Deadlift with shoulder press  Milk/Detergent Jug Single Leg Crossover  Heel Digs  Shoulder Blade Kiss  Hip Lift  Push-up to Reach Back  Hamstring curls  Stagger Stance Two-Arm Band Chest Press  Knee Lift  Neck Stretch  One-Legged Lateral Raise  T-pose

muscles as well.

Step 1: Stand with arms bent at elbows, knees slightly bent, weight distributed evenly between both feet.

Step 2: Bend one knee and try to touch your heel to your tush as you pull your arms in. Stretch your arms out as your foot returns

to the floor.

Alternate move: If you have trouble balancing, hold onto the back of a sturdy chair while you perform this exercise. Remember to move

only the legs when holding onto a support.

Repetitions: Start with 10 alternating hamstring curls, or 5 total on each side. Then see if you can work up to 20, 30 or even 50

total hamstring curls each morning!

Richard Simmons has helped millions of overweight men and women through his exercise videos, eating programs, books, and national television and radio appearances. This year, Simmons leads his 26th Cruise to Lose weight-loss program aboard Carnival Cruise Lines. He also continues to teach at Slimmons, a motivational exercise studio he established in 1974.

— Los Angeles Daily News