You can have long, lean and well-toned legs when you do the right exercises to keep them looking their best. Exercises that shape your ankles, build your calves, and tone your thighs. No matter what your age or size, you can improve the look of your legs in just a few months.

Walking is an excellent low-impact activity that helps to keep your legs in shape. A leisurely stroll is nice, but for real results, you will want to step it up a bit and put a little speed in your walk. If you encounter pains in your shins, you can try a quick exercise to help stretch your muscles, avoid shin pains, and actually help shape your calves and ankles. It’s also a great way to strengthen these muscles, so do this exercise often.

Simply rise up on your tiptoes while holding onto a stationary object like a chair or table. Tip up until you feel the stretch in the back of your calves, then ease back down until your feet are flat. Repeat this 20 times, rest and repeat 20 more times. This quick exercise can be done anytime and nearly any place.

Protect your knees from impact. Knee problems plague many people as they age. Taking steps to safeguard your knees from injury in your younger years may mean you won’t have to plan for a knee replacement later in life. Most knee injuries occur during sports- or work-related activities. Wearing a knee brace and good quality shoes with sufficient support can help to protect your knees when running and walking. Be sure to use a mat when working out on the floor at the gym or at home to keep your knees from grinding on the floor when you are kneeling or on all fours.

One of the best exercises to work the entire leg is the loveable lunge. This is also a great exercise for shaping the butt. Lunges work the muscles in the back of the legs, reducing fat and toning the muscles to give a nice smooth silhouette from your toes to your tush. These exercises are easy to do in the comfort of your own home. You only need a small area to work out, but be sure to use a mat for the most comfort and safety when doing resistance exercises such as these.

Standing with your feet together, place your hands on your hips, lift your chest and draw your shoulders down your back, pull your navel inward to engage your core muscles. Inhale, step with your right foot forward and lower your left knee towards the ground, as you exhale step back with your right foot to a standing position. Hold your shoulders squarely on top of your pelvic area. Repeat on the left side, lowering your right knee to the ground and then stepping back with your left foot.