Did you know the gluteal muscles are one of the most underused and undertrained muscles in the body [1]? Crazy, right? One of the common causes of dormant butt syndrome [2] as some like to call it is sitting. Yes, sitting. When you sit for extended periods of time (you may want to stay up now and continue reading this) your hip flexors tighten and your glute muscles turn off.
The good news is, you can begin correcting and activating your booty muscles today (and start getting those gains). It's 100 percent okay to train your butt everyday, just be sure to mix up the stimulus in order to prevent over training and injury. If you're new to strength training you'll want to begin with no more than three strength sessions a week, in order to allow your body to adapt to the new stimulus. Once you become comfortable with the movements and aren't extremely sore, you can begin to advance your programs.
Personal trainer Ryan Read [4] has transformed a butt or two, and told POPSUGAR that he likes to add walking on a treadmill at an incline into his programs to help with booty gains. "I base my whole program on building and burning," he said. "I have my girls lift heavy weights to build muscle [5], and do incline and resistance cardio to burn calories [6] and tone." Ryan said that the combination of lifting heavy and doing resisted cardio are "key to getting the lean, full look girls want."
How exactly does walking on an incline help [7]? Glad you asked. Ryan said that it allows the glutes to stay involved while keeping the heart rate elevated and burning calories. "It's high intense, fast-paced, and makes for a great workout to keep the muscles guessing [8], which is key to growth."
Start sculpting your booty today with Ryan's butt transforming workout [9]. And as a bonus, begin implementing these exercises into your strength sessions to really see a change in your assets.
Single-Leg Bridges
- Lie on your back and place your hands on the floor for stability as you bend one leg and lift the other leg off the ground.
- Pressing your heel into the floor, lift your pelvis up, keeping your body in a stiff bridge position.
- Slowly lower your body to the floor. This completes one rep.
Side Steps With a Booty Band
- Place a resistance band around your ankles. Start with a lighter band and work your way up to a heavier band.
- Begin standing with feet directly underneath your hips and your hands on your hips.
- Squat halfway down and sidestep to the right, leading with your heel to make the glute muscles engage as far as you can manage without allowing your knees to rotate toward each other. Bring the left leg toward the right with enough space to keep some resistance in the band. Concentrate on keeping your pelvis level as you move sideways.
Barbell Hip Thrusts
- Sitting on the floor with your legs extended, rest your back against a stable bench.
- Place a towel or shoulder cushion on the bar for comfort (optional). Roll the barbell over your thighs until the bar is directly above your hip joints.
- Brace your core. As you drive your heels into the ground, squeeze your glutes, lifting your hips up to full extension, meaning your hips are even with your knees.
- With control, lower back down to the ground.
- This is one repetition.
Romanian Dead Lifts
- Stand holding a pair of medium-weight dumbbells in each hand, arms at your sides, with your knees slightly bent.
- Keeping your arms straight and knees slightly bent, slowly bend at your hip joint (not your waist) and lower the weights as far as possible without rounding your back, which should remain straight.
- Now squeeze your glutes to slowly pull yourself up (don't use your back). This counts as one rep.
Marching Bridge
- Lie on your back with your hands by your side, with your heels about 12 inches from your pelvis. Press your heels into the floor to come into a bridge position with a neutral spine.
- Press your right heel into the floor, and keeping your knee bent, raise your left leg until your hip is a 90 degrees. Lower your left leg down, pressing through your glutes so your pelvis doesn't drift to the floor along with the leg. This counts as one rep.
Hex Bar Dead Lift
- Load the hex bar with the weight of your choice. If you're new to the move, start by just using the bar without any additional weight.
- Stand in the centre of the hex bar with your feet hip-width apart.
- Bend at your hips and knees as you grab the handles of the hex bar. Raise your hips up slightly, keeping your back flat, to create tension in the back of your legs (your hamstrings will feel tight).
- Keeping your back flat and shoulders relaxed, drive your heels through the ground as you stand straight up.
- Squeeze your glutes at the top of the lift to ensure you get full hip extension.
- Continue to grasp the handles as you lower the weight to the ground with control. Be sure to keep your chest open and your back flat. This counts as one repetition.
Dumbbell Sumo Squat
- Stand with your feet wide, toes pointing out, holding both dumbbells in front of the chest.
- Bend your knees, lowering your hips deeply, so your thighs are parallel with the floor. Make sure to keep your weight back in your heels.
- Rise back up, straightening the legs completely and squeezing the glutes at the top of the movement to get the most from the exercise.
Dumbbell Walking Lunges
- Stand upright, feet together, with 10-pound dumbbells at your side. Take a controlled step forward with your left leg, lowering your hips toward the floor by bending both knees to 90-degree angles. Your back knee should point toward but not touch the ground, and your front knee should be directly over your ankle.
- Press your left heel into the ground, and push off with your right foot to bring your right leg forward, stepping with control into a lunge on the other side. This completes one repetition.
Traditional Bridge Exercise
- On your mat, lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Be sure and keep your feet underneath your knees, not in front. Plant your palms by each side, face down.
- Raise your hips up to the ceiling, tensing your abs and squeezing your butt as you do. You should be making a long diagonal line with your body, from shoulders to knees.
- Hold for a few seconds, making sure your spine doesn't round and your hips don't sag. Keep your abs and butt muscles engaged.
- Lower down to the ground; this is considered one rep.
Bulgarian Split Squat
- Grab a pair of 10-pound dumbbells. Begin by placing the toes of your left foot on a bench, box, stair, or chair, with your right leg straight.
- Make sure your right foot is out far enough so that when you lower your hips, your knee stays directly over your ankle.
- Bend your right knee, squeeze your left glute, and lower your pelvis toward the ground.
- Press your right heel into the ground to straighten your right knee. This completes one repetition.