This article originally appeared in Shape.com.
Forget complex weight machines and endless leg lifts. To sculpt strong thighs, you need to move in a new direction, says Violet Zaki, group fitness instructor at Equinox Fitness Club in New York City. Explosive, multidimensional exercises target your entire lower body in one dynamic shot, with a special focus on your outer thighs.
Zaki's outer-thigh exercise routine is a fusion of martial arts, yoga, dance, and strength training that can be done anywhere. For a bonus boost, each of the outer-thigh exercises demand focus and balance, engaging your core (here’s what that means!) as well as your legs.