The one-leg Romanian deadlift

Ready to take your lower-body work up a gear?

The one-leg Romanian deadlift is quite a mouthful to say, and we’re not going to lie – it’s a tough one to perfect, too.

One for more experienced lifters, it’s a great move to really push yourself as well as your results. ‘This exercise will test core stability, hip stability, upper back strength

and balance,’ says strength and conditioning trainer and Train2win coach Dan Lawrence. ‘Because it is a unilateral movement, it will highlight any imbalance you may have from left to right, too.’ The one-leg Romanian deadlift is especially important if you run or play sports, as your glutes and hamstrings (as well as the rest of your posterior chain) play a huge role in any jumping or forward movement. A bonus? ‘Due to the lengthening nature of the exercise, it will also improve flexibility in your hamstrings.’ If the exercise is too difficult, take away some of the instability by placing your back leg on a glider on top of a box. If it’s too easy, add some more weight!