Place the back of your torso against the back pad of the machine and hook your shoulders under the shoulder pads provided.
Position your legs in the platform using a shoulder width medium stance with the toes slightly pointed out.
Place your arms on the side handles of the machine and disengage the safety bars (which on most designs is done by moving the side handles from a facing front position to a diagonal position).
Now straighten your legs without locking the knees. This will be your starting position.
Begin to slowly lower the unit by bending the knees as you maintain a straight posture with the head up. Continue down until the angle between the upper leg and the calves becomes slightly less than 90-degrees. Inhale as you perform this portion of the movement.
Begin to raise the unit as you exhale by pushing the floor with mainly with the heel of your foot as you straighten the legs again and go back to the starting position.