there are machines such as the leg press and the hack squat that work out your legs. Other machines that isolate the muscles in your legs allow you to extend your legs to work the quadriceps, curl them to work your hamstrings, and to do calf raises. There are hip adductor and hip abductor machines where you sit down and move your legs together or apart, depending on where the pads are located.

As for squatting with free weights, you can either hold a barbell up to your shoulders or hold dumbbells in your hands by your sides while you stand with your feet at least shoulder-width apart and crouch slowly (keep your back straight!) until your thighs are parallel to the floor, then you press yourself back up using your heels.

Bottom line: machines should be straightforward, and you can do squats while holding weights. You’ll be working on your grip strength too!