Define your goals, Nautilus, Hack squat/leg press exercises – Nautilus NT-1230 User Manual
Page 4: Hack squat, Leg press

Hack Squat
Knee Extension with Hip Extension and Ankle Plantar Flexion
Define Your Goals
Reaching Your Goals
To reach your goals, follow a consistent, well-
designed program that provides balanced 
development to all parts of the body and includes 
both aerobic and strength exercise. Only then 
will you meet your goals safely and efficiently. 
The workout routines found in this manual are 
professionally designed and written to target 
specific fitness goals. Should you not find one 
specific program to your liking, you can design 
your own, based on sound information and the 
principles found in this manual.
Design Your Own Program
You may want to design your own personal 
program specifically geared to your goals and 
lifestyle. Designing a program is easy, as long as 
you follow the guidelines below.
Understand fitness and its components: 
Improperly designed programs can be dangerous. 
Take some time to review this manual as well as 
other fitness guides.
Know your current fitness level: 
Before you start any fitness program you should 
consult a physician who will help you determine 
your current abilities.
Identify your goals: 
Goals are critical to choosing and designing an 
exercise program that fits and enhances your 
lifestyle, but so is strategy. It’s important not 
to rush the process and try to accomplish too 
much too soon. That will lead to setbacks and 
discouragement. Instead, set a series of smaller 
achievable goals.
Select complementary exercises: 
Be sure to pair exercises that address compound 
joint movements and single joint movements. 
In addition, select exercises that address 
complimentary muscle groups.
Put first things first: 
During each session, first work muscle groups that 
need the most training.
Remember your cardiovascular component: 
Any fitness program must contain a cardiovascular 
fitness component to be complete. So complement 
your resistance training with aerobic exercise such 
as walking, running, or bicycling.
Training variables: 
When designing your own program there are 
several variables that, when mixed properly, will 
equal the right fitness formula for you. In order to 
find out the best formula, you must experiment 
with several combinations of variables.
The variables are as follows:
• Training Frequency: The number of times you 
 
train per week. We recommend daily activity
but not daily training of the same muscle
group.
 
• Training Intensity: The amount of resistance 
 
used during your repetition.
• Training Volume: The number of repetitions 
 
and sets performed.
 
• Rest intervals: The time you rest between sets 
 
and the time you rest between workouts.
Once you’ve established a base of fitness, 
follow these basic principles:
• Isolate muscle groups: Focus work on specific 
 
muscle groups.
 
• Progressive Loading: The gradual systematic 
 
increase of repetitions, resistance and exercise
period.
Nautilus
®
Hack Squat/Leg Press Exercises
Muscles Worked: Quadriceps; Gluteus 
Maximus; Hamstrings; Calves
Success Tips: 
• Sit up straight, chest lifted and abdominal
 muscles tightened. Maintain a very slight
 arch in your lower back.
• Use slow, controlled motion to insure that
 you can return to Start position more easily.
• Do not lock your knee at the apex of this 
 movement.
• At the top of movement, knees and hips
 should bend slightly less than 90˚.
Start: 
• With the machine adjusted to the Hack
 Squat position, stand on the platform facing
 away from the machine. 
• Place your feet slightly wider than shoulder 
 width apart, feet and hips turned out
 slightly.
• Rotate the handles to the unlocked position..
Action:
• Slowly lower your body by bending at the
 hips, knees and ankles.
• Using controlled movement, lower the body
 until your knees, hips and ankles are bent 
 slightly less than 90˚.
• Return to Start position, keeping movement 
 smooth and controlled. 
Finish
Start
Muscles Worked: Quadriceps; Gluteus 
Maximus; Hamstrings
Success Tips: 
• Generate force for this exercise by pushing 
 and pressing through your lower leg onto
 the platform.
• Keep your knees pointed in the same
 direction as your feet. DO NOT let knees
 travel inward! Do not lock your knees.
• Keep your spine in alignment and your
 quads tightened.
• Do not use momentum for this exercise - 
 move slowly.
Start: 
• With the machine in the Leg Press position, 
 sit on the seat, feet slightly wider than 
 shoulder-width apart. 
• Keep ankle lined up directly underneath
 your knee.
• Keep your chest lifted and a slight arch in
 your lower back.
• Grasp the handles for stability.
Action:
• Bend your knees and hips slowly, allowing
 the platform to move toward you.
• Limit platform movement to a position that
 allows you to maintain good posture 
 throughout the exercise.
• Slowly return to the Start position.
Leg Press
Hip Extension with Knee Extension
Start
4
5
Finish
