We talked about several types of push-ups in March. Quite a few of you like them. But there were many more irritated because you thought I was neglecting the gluteus maximus.Over the next few weeks, we’re going to focus on body-weight leg exercises. We’re going to hit muscular endurance, muscular strength and explosiveness. We’re definitely going to feel the blood flowing. We’re going to get a bit winded. Most importantly, if we incorporate these exercises into our workouts, we’re going to get the thighs and butts we want – provided we’ve taken care of our diet plans.We’ll go over easier exercises today and hit more challenging ones next week.Walking a hillYes, it’s as easy as it sounds. Find a steep but manageable neighborhood hill. Measure a distance that’s roughly 100 feet. Now walk up the hill three times. After the third time, turn around and walk up the hill backward three times. The backward walking can be made more challenging if you crouch a little; understand that’s squatting a little, not bending over.Step-upsThis is another one that’s fairly simple. All we’re doing is a stepping motion, similar to walking up a flight of stairs. Except this “stair” should be no less than 10 inches high. We’ll put our right foot flat on top of an elevated surface, then use the muscles in our right leg to lift us until our left foot is at least level with our right. Make this more challenging by bringing the left foot well above the platform.SquatsIf done correctly, this classic leg exercise does wonders for our strength, endurance and definition. Start the exercise by standing erect, feet a little more than shoulder-width apart and toes pointing slightly out. While keeping a straight back, allow the hips and knees to bend until your hamstrings are about parallel to the surface you’re standing on.Hindu/Deep SquatsThese are similar to regular squats (above), but there are some breathing and motion techniques to incorporate. Start in the same position as the regular squat. Take a nice breath before the descent. As we’re descending, we need to extend our hands in front of us. We descend as far as we can on this squat. Allow the hamstrings to touch the calves. As we ascend, we slowly exhale while bringing our hands down to our sides.Check out my blog at milobryant.blogspot.com to see videos of each exercise.Bryant has two National Strength and Conditioning Association certifications. Contact him at milo.bryant@gazettedev.gazette.com or read his blog at milobryant.blogspot.com. He appears on KOAA’s Comcast Channel 9 most Wednesdays at 4 p.m.

Allie Shepherd gave CPR to a dummy dog at an American Red Cross animal first-aid class. Students also learned to perform the Heimlich maneuver, splint a broken leg, stop bleeding and treat shock. Photo by (BRYAN OLLER, THE GAZETTE)