Exercise guide · Beginner · Compound

Potty Squat: How to Do It & Muscles Worked

The potty squat is a bodyweight exercise that targets the abs while also engaging the quadriceps and glutes. It involves squatting down as if sitting on a chair, maintaining a straight back and upright chest, and then returning to a standing position.

Primary muscles
Abs
Secondary muscles
Glutes , Quads
Equipment
Body Weight
Level · type
Beginner · Compound
Demonstration of the potty squat
Front view: muscles worked by the potty squat. Primary: abs. Secondary: glutes and quads.
Back view: muscles worked by the potty squat. Primary: abs. Secondary: glutes and quads.
Primary Secondary

How to do the potty squat

  1. Step 1: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, toes pointing slightly outward.
  2. Step 2: Lower your body down by bending your knees and pushing your hips back as if you were sitting on a chair.
  3. Step 3: Keep your chest up and your back straight throughout the movement.
  4. Step 4: Lower yourself until your thighs are parallel to the ground or as low as you can comfortably go.
  5. Step 5: Pause for a moment at the bottom, then push through your heels to return to the starting position.
  6. Step 6: Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

Sets, reps and programming

Suggested sets, reps and rest for the potty squat by training goal
Goal Sets Reps Rest Effort
Strength 3–5 3–6 3–5 min 1–3 reps in reserve
Muscle growth 3–4 6–12 2–3 min 1–2 reps in reserve
Muscular endurance 2–3 12–20 1–2 min 1–3 reps in reserve

Ranges follow the ACSM position stand on progression in resistance training. Muscle grows across a wide range of loads when sets end close to failure (Schoenfeld et al., 2017), longer rests between heavy sets support strength and size (Schoenfeld et al., 2016), and stopping a rep or two short of failure works about as well as training to failure (Grgic et al., 2022). Estimate your working weights with the strength calculators.

Potty Squat alternatives

More exercises that train the abs as their main target:

More abs exercises

See the best ab exercises, ranked →

Sources

  1. American College of Sports Medicine. Progression models in resistance training for healthy adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009;41(3):687-708.
  2. Schoenfeld BJ, Grgic J, Ogborn D, Krieger JW. Strength and hypertrophy adaptations between low- vs. high-load resistance training. J Strength Cond Res. 2017;31(12):3508-3523.
  3. Schoenfeld BJ, Pope ZK, Benik FM, et al. Longer interset rest periods enhance muscle strength and hypertrophy in resistance-trained men. J Strength Cond Res. 2016;30(7):1805-1812.
  4. Grgic J, Schoenfeld BJ, Orazem J, Sabol F. Effects of resistance training performed to repetition failure or non-failure on muscular strength and hypertrophy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Sport Health Sci. 2022;11(2):202-211.

Step-by-step instructions and demonstration media are from the ExerciseDB exercise dataset.

This guide is general fitness information, not medical advice. Stop if an exercise causes pain and speak to a doctor or physiotherapist about injuries or health conditions before starting a new programme.