Why Bodyweight Squats Are Underrated

Powerlifters tend to look past bodyweight movements. Once you’re moving serious weight, air squats can feel too easy to be useful. But that mindset misses what bodyweight squats actually offer.

Done with intention, air squats are a low-fatigue way to groove your squat pattern, work on depth, and refine bracing. They’re also excellent for warmups, active recovery, and even mobility sessions. You can perform them slowly with pauses, focus on breathing mechanics, or use them to re-pattern your setup on days when your barbell work isn’t crisp.

They also reveal issues you might miss under a heavy bar (like collapsing knees, poor balance, or loss of tightness at the bottom). Cleaning up these issues without load gives you more control when it counts.

If you’ve been skipping air squats, you’re skipping a chance to improve. Bodyweight doesn’t mean beginner. It means control, intention, and reps with purpose.

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