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Wall Sit

A static hold against a wall that burns the quads — no equipment and easy on the knees.

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Muscles worked

Front
Back
Target
Equipment
Bodyweight, Wall
Level
Beginner
Tempo
Hold, breathing steadily

How to do the wall sit

  1. 1Stand with your back against a wall and feet about two feet in front of you.
  2. 2Slide down until your thighs are parallel to the floor and your knees are over your ankles.
  3. 3Press your back into the wall and hold.
  4. 4Slide back up to finish.

When to pick it: Pick it for quad endurance at home, or as a joint-friendly finisher. Sit higher to make it easier.

Form cues

  • Knees at 90°
  • Whole back on the wall
  • Weight in the heels

Common mistakes

  • Knees drifting past the toes
  • Hands pushing on the thighs
  • Holding the breath

Sets and reps

GoalSetsTimeRest
Beginner315–30 s holds45 s
Building330–60 s holds45–60 s
Advanced3–4Harder variation, 20–40 s60 s

Progress by making the variation harder, not by holding for minutes. Get a full 4–12 week program →

Equipment taken? Swap it for

These train the same muscles with different equipment.

More quads exercises

All quads exercises →

General fitness information, not medical advice. Stop if an exercise causes pain, and check with a clinician before starting if you have an injury or a health condition.