Let’s be honest, who doesn’t want a good butt these days? While much of the focus for men has long been on a ripped chest and massive arms, the world is beginning to wake up to the importance of having a sculpted bum. Not only does it look good (like, really good), but a firm, muscular butt is essential for your overall health and fitness success. If you’re a self-proclaimed gym-goer, then you probably already know that your glutes are the largest (and most powerful) muscles in the body, generating enough force and momentum to constantly move you through the ups and downs of life – literally. So working them out is not just about aesthetics (though that’s important too), but you gain so much more added strength and power by really burning those glutes out a few times a week.  To help narrow down the list to the 10 best exercises for those great glute gains, we’ve chatted with Danny Kennedy – founder of DK Fitness and The Fitness and Lifestyle Podcast, who helps men and Olympic and professional athletes all over the world to get in their very best shape. He’s let us in on some of his favorite exercises for targeting the glutes and how you can get the most out of each exercise by putting your mind to muscle. Let’s get it.

  1. Barbell Hip Thrust

How to perform: To get in position, rest your upper back on a bench with a barbell across the hips. Ensure your hands have a firm grip underneath the bar and place your feet directly below the knees about a shoulder-width apart. Once you’re set, push your hips into the air while keeping your pelvis tucked under and your heels driving into the floor. Squeeze the glutes at the top of each rep.  What you gain: Hip thrusts of any kind are one of those exercises that will make your glutes strong as hell because they isolate the gluteus maximus (the largest bum muscle), meaning that all of the power is coming from the glutes and your strong hip drive. Putting your weight in the back of your heels, rather than your toes, activates and isolates the gluteus muscles even more if you’re looking to up the ante. 

  1. Sumo Deadlift

How to perform: Place your feet awkwardly wide outside of shoulder width, with your hips just above 90 degrees. Keep your arms long with scaps retracted and back flat to protect your spine and help you lift the bar. You’ll pull through the heels, similarly to a hip thrust, finishing with your hips all the way into extension and your glutes fired on. What you gain: The sumo-style wide stance with toes and knees slightly pointed outward allows for greater glute activation than a typical deadlift. The sumo deadlift is also one that builds tension through the flexing and thrusting of the hips, which is perfect for building a better booty.

  1. Walking Lunges

How to perform: You can perform walking lunges with a weight (dumbbell or kettlebell) in either hand or opt for using your own bodyweight. To perform this exercise, take long steps (aka lunges), keeping your chest slightly forward. Place all of your weight through the front heel and squeeze the glutes at the top of each rep. What you gain: Walking lunges are an intense lower body exercise that should definitely be on your to-do list when glute day comes around. These lunges don’t only heavily target the glutes, but they also activate the rest of your lower body (calves and inner thighs included).

  1. Squat

How to perform: Set your feet up slightly outside shoulder-width apart and rotate them outward. Push your hips back, forcing the knees out. Put mind to muscle, and think about spreading the floor and finishing with your glutes contracted and hips in full extension at the top. What you gain: I mean, what kind of booty-building recommendation list would this be if we didn’t include the iconic glute exercise: the squat. But squats really are worth the hype. They target the glutes, hamstrings, adductors, core, and back while improving your overall coordination and mobility. Squats may even boost your testosterone levels, so there’s really no reason not to give them a try.

  1. Step Up

How to perform: Step up onto a bench or box that’s at knee height or slightly above. Forcing the heel down into the bench (or box), stand all the way up. Make sure you squeeze the glutes at the top of each rep with your hips in full extension and find control as you go back down. What you gain: This staple glute exercise targets the gluteus maximus with incredible accuracy. Not to mention, this cross-fit-like exercise will make you better at doing everyday things like walking up flights of stairs and give you the control to make the most out of every movement. By now, you’ve probably caught onto a significant theme with the bulk of these exercises, and that’s squeezing your glutes at the top. This is crucial for activating and isolating that muscle group and getting the full effect of each exercise.  

See more about - The 10 best fitness podcasts in 2021

  1. Kettlebell Swing

How to perform: After putting the kettlebell in front of you, take a slightly wider than hip-width stance. Bend at the hips and knees, getting a good, tight grip on the bell because you really don’t want it flying out and breaking some mirrors or windows. Or both. Tighten your upper body by engaging your core and lats. Then, hike the kettlebell back through your legs and swing it up, squeezing your glutes at the top. What you gain: Talk about explosive! This fiery movement requires a whole lot of hip and glute power. This exercise involves a triple extension – from the ankles, knees, and hips – that targets those glutes in one fluid motion. 

  1. Bulgarian Split Squat

How to perform: Load up a barbell and hold it on the backs of your shoulders, similar to a weighted squat position. Rest the top of your right foot on a bench or box behind you, with your back knee bent to 90 degrees. Keeping your core straight and engaged, bend your hips and left leg, lowering down until your back knee almost touches the floor.  What you gain: When doing a proper Bulgarian split squat with good form, your glutes don’t take a break. They support your knee, hip flexor, and help engage the rest of your lower body. Plus, since you’re focusing on keeping your core nice and tight, it’s an effective ab exercise as well. 

  1. Barbell Glute Bridge

How to perform: Lie on your back with your legs extended, roll the barbell up to your thighs until it’s sitting on your lap.  Tip: Try placing a towel or pad underneath the bar to protect your hips. Engage your core and drive your heels into the floor, extending your hips up until they’re in line with your torso. Squeeze glutes at the top and control yourself on the way down.  What you gain: Like a hip thrust, the weighted glute bridge will target the glutes without arching and overextending the back. Glute bridges can be used in conjunction with hip thrusts on glutes day. But if you’re new to working out, bridges may be better to start with since they have a smaller range of motion.

  1. Side-Lying Clamshell

How to perform: Start by lying on your side with your knees bent at a 90-degree angle. Put your heels together and open your knees as wide as you can without rotating in your back or pelvis. Lower back down with control. Clamshells can be done as a bodyweight warm-up, or you can turn up the intensity by using resistance bands or weights. What you gain: You may have seen your girl doing clamshells in her at-home Pilates workout, but they’re not to be slept on – she’s onto something. Side-lying clamshells primarily target your gluteus medius, which you can think of as the muscle on the side of the butt. While it might not be the biggest part of the bum, an inactive gluteus medius can cause lower back and knee issues, causing you to struggle with even the most basic of movements like walking.

  1. Single-Leg Romanian Deadlift

How to perform: Begin with your feet shoulder-width apart and knees slightly bent. Hold a kettlebell or dumbbell in one hand and raise that same side’s leg off the floor. Flex your supporting leg slightly to engage the glutes, holding that bend as you hinge at the hips and lower your torso until it’s nearly parallel to the floor. Squeeze your glutes, thrust your hips forward, and return to your starting position. What you gain: Split or single-leg exercises are ideal for getting more functional movements out of your training day. By focusing on a single leg, you work on your balance and ability to keep your center of gravity, strengthen vulnerable areas of the body like the ankle and knee, and become more adapted for quick performance in sports.

See more about - The 8 essential exrcises all men should do according to the experts

Let’s be honest, who doesn’t want a good butt these days? While much of the focus for men has long been on a ripped chest and massive arms, the world is beginning to wake up to the importance of having a sculpted bum. Not only does it look good (like, really good), but a firm, muscular butt is essential for your overall health and fitness success. If you’re a self-proclaimed gym-goer, then you probably already know that your glutes are the largest (and most powerful) muscles in the body, generating enough force and momentum to constantly move you through the ups and downs of life – literally. So working them out is not just about aesthetics (though that’s important too), but you gain so much more added strength and power by really burning those glutes out a few times a week.  To help narrow down the list to the 10 best exercises for those great glute gains, we’ve chatted with Danny Kennedy – founder of DK Fitness and The Fitness and Lifestyle Podcast, who helps men and Olympic and professional athletes all over the world to get in their very best shape. He’s let us in on some of his favorite exercises for targeting the glutes and how you can get the most out of each exercise by putting your mind to muscle. Let’s get it.

  1. Barbell Hip Thrust

How to perform: To get in position, rest your upper back on a bench with a barbell across the hips. Ensure your hands have a firm grip underneath the bar and place your feet directly below the knees about a shoulder-width apart. Once you’re set, push your hips into the air while keeping your pelvis tucked under and your heels driving into the floor. Squeeze the glutes at the top of each rep.  What you gain: Hip thrusts of any kind are one of those exercises that will make your glutes strong as hell because they isolate the gluteus maximus (the largest bum muscle), meaning that all of the power is coming from the glutes and your strong hip drive. Putting your weight in the back of your heels, rather than your toes, activates and isolates the gluteus muscles even more if you’re looking to up the ante. 

  1. Sumo Deadlift

How to perform: Place your feet awkwardly wide outside of shoulder width, with your hips just above 90 degrees. Keep your arms long with scaps retracted and back flat to protect your spine and help you lift the bar. You’ll pull through the heels, similarly to a hip thrust, finishing with your hips all the way into extension and your glutes fired on. What you gain: The sumo-style wide stance with toes and knees slightly pointed outward allows for greater glute activation than a typical deadlift. The sumo deadlift is also one that builds tension through the flexing and thrusting of the hips, which is perfect for building a better booty.

  1. Walking Lunges

How to perform: You can perform walking lunges with a weight (dumbbell or kettlebell) in either hand or opt for using your own bodyweight. To perform this exercise, take long steps (aka lunges), keeping your chest slightly forward. Place all of your weight through the front heel and squeeze the glutes at the top of each rep. What you gain: Walking lunges are an intense lower body exercise that should definitely be on your to-do list when glute day comes around. These lunges don’t only heavily target the glutes, but they also activate the rest of your lower body (calves and inner thighs included).

  1. Squat

How to perform: Set your feet up slightly outside shoulder-width apart and rotate them outward. Push your hips back, forcing the knees out. Put mind to muscle, and think about spreading the floor and finishing with your glutes contracted and hips in full extension at the top. What you gain: I mean, what kind of booty-building recommendation list would this be if we didn’t include the iconic glute exercise: the squat. But squats really are worth the hype. They target the glutes, hamstrings, adductors, core, and back while improving your overall coordination and mobility. Squats may even boost your testosterone levels, so there’s really no reason not to give them a try.

  1. Step Up

How to perform: Step up onto a bench or box that’s at knee height or slightly above. Forcing the heel down into the bench (or box), stand all the way up. Make sure you squeeze the glutes at the top of each rep with your hips in full extension and find control as you go back down. What you gain: This staple glute exercise targets the gluteus maximus with incredible accuracy. Not to mention, this cross-fit-like exercise will make you better at doing everyday things like walking up flights of stairs and give you the control to make the most out of every movement. By now, you’ve probably caught onto a significant theme with the bulk of these exercises, and that’s squeezing your glutes at the top. This is crucial for activating and isolating that muscle group and getting the full effect of each exercise.  

See more about - The 10 best fitness podcasts in 2021

  1. Kettlebell Swing

How to perform: After putting the kettlebell in front of you, take a slightly wider than hip-width stance. Bend at the hips and knees, getting a good, tight grip on the bell because you really don’t want it flying out and breaking some mirrors or windows. Or both. Tighten your upper body by engaging your core and lats. Then, hike the kettlebell back through your legs and swing it up, squeezing your glutes at the top. What you gain: Talk about explosive! This fiery movement requires a whole lot of hip and glute power. This exercise involves a triple extension – from the ankles, knees, and hips – that targets those glutes in one fluid motion. 

  1. Bulgarian Split Squat

How to perform: Load up a barbell and hold it on the backs of your shoulders, similar to a weighted squat position. Rest the top of your right foot on a bench or box behind you, with your back knee bent to 90 degrees. Keeping your core straight and engaged, bend your hips and left leg, lowering down until your back knee almost touches the floor.  What you gain: When doing a proper Bulgarian split squat with good form, your glutes don’t take a break. They support your knee, hip flexor, and help engage the rest of your lower body. Plus, since you’re focusing on keeping your core nice and tight, it’s an effective ab exercise as well. 

  1. Barbell Glute Bridge

How to perform: Lie on your back with your legs extended, roll the barbell up to your thighs until it’s sitting on your lap.  Tip: Try placing a towel or pad underneath the bar to protect your hips. Engage your core and drive your heels into the floor, extending your hips up until they’re in line with your torso. Squeeze glutes at the top and control yourself on the way down.  What you gain: Like a hip thrust, the weighted glute bridge will target the glutes without arching and overextending the back. Glute bridges can be used in conjunction with hip thrusts on glutes day. But if you’re new to working out, bridges may be better to start with since they have a smaller range of motion.

  1. Side-Lying Clamshell

How to perform: Start by lying on your side with your knees bent at a 90-degree angle. Put your heels together and open your knees as wide as you can without rotating in your back or pelvis. Lower back down with control. Clamshells can be done as a bodyweight warm-up, or you can turn up the intensity by using resistance bands or weights. What you gain: You may have seen your girl doing clamshells in her at-home Pilates workout, but they’re not to be slept on – she’s onto something. Side-lying clamshells primarily target your gluteus medius, which you can think of as the muscle on the side of the butt. While it might not be the biggest part of the bum, an inactive gluteus medius can cause lower back and knee issues, causing you to struggle with even the most basic of movements like walking.

  1. Single-Leg Romanian Deadlift

How to perform: Begin with your feet shoulder-width apart and knees slightly bent. Hold a kettlebell or dumbbell in one hand and raise that same side’s leg off the floor. Flex your supporting leg slightly to engage the glutes, holding that bend as you hinge at the hips and lower your torso until it’s nearly parallel to the floor. Squeeze your glutes, thrust your hips forward, and return to your starting position. What you gain: Split or single-leg exercises are ideal for getting more functional movements out of your training day. By focusing on a single leg, you work on your balance and ability to keep your center of gravity, strengthen vulnerable areas of the body like the ankle and knee, and become more adapted for quick performance in sports.

See more about - The 8 essential exrcises all men should do according to the experts

Let’s be honest, who doesn’t want a good butt these days? While much of the focus for men has long been on a ripped chest and massive arms, the world is beginning to wake up to the importance of having a sculpted bum. Not only does it look good (like, really good), but a firm, muscular butt is essential for your overall health and fitness success.

If you’re a self-proclaimed gym-goer, then you probably already know that your glutes are the largest (and most powerful) muscles in the body, generating enough force and momentum to constantly move you through the ups and downs of life – literally. So working them out is not just about aesthetics (though that’s important too), but you gain so much more added strength and power by really burning those glutes out a few times a week. 

To help narrow down the list to the 10 best exercises for those great glute gains, we’ve chatted with Danny Kennedy – founder of DK Fitness and The Fitness and Lifestyle Podcast, who helps men and Olympic and professional athletes all over the world to get in their very best shape. He’s let us in on some of his favorite exercises for targeting the glutes and how you can get the most out of each exercise by putting your mind to muscle. Let’s get it.

  1. Barbell Hip Thrust

How to perform: To get in position, rest your upper back on a bench with a barbell across the hips. Ensure your hands have a firm grip underneath the bar and place your feet directly below the knees about a shoulder-width apart. Once you’re set, push your hips into the air while keeping your pelvis tucked under and your heels driving into the floor. Squeeze the glutes at the top of each rep.  What you gain: Hip thrusts of any kind are one of those exercises that will make your glutes strong as hell because they isolate the gluteus maximus (the largest bum muscle), meaning that all of the power is coming from the glutes and your strong hip drive. Putting your weight in the back of your heels, rather than your toes, activates and isolates the gluteus muscles even more if you’re looking to up the ante. 

  1. Sumo Deadlift

How to perform: Place your feet awkwardly wide outside of shoulder width, with your hips just above 90 degrees. Keep your arms long with scaps retracted and back flat to protect your spine and help you lift the bar. You’ll pull through the heels, similarly to a hip thrust, finishing with your hips all the way into extension and your glutes fired on. What you gain: The sumo-style wide stance with toes and knees slightly pointed outward allows for greater glute activation than a typical deadlift. The sumo deadlift is also one that builds tension through the flexing and thrusting of the hips, which is perfect for building a better booty.

  1. Walking Lunges

How to perform: You can perform walking lunges with a weight (dumbbell or kettlebell) in either hand or opt for using your own bodyweight. To perform this exercise, take long steps (aka lunges), keeping your chest slightly forward. Place all of your weight through the front heel and squeeze the glutes at the top of each rep. What you gain: Walking lunges are an intense lower body exercise that should definitely be on your to-do list when glute day comes around. These lunges don’t only heavily target the glutes, but they also activate the rest of your lower body (calves and inner thighs included).

  1. Squat

How to perform: Set your feet up slightly outside shoulder-width apart and rotate them outward. Push your hips back, forcing the knees out. Put mind to muscle, and think about spreading the floor and finishing with your glutes contracted and hips in full extension at the top. What you gain: I mean, what kind of booty-building recommendation list would this be if we didn’t include the iconic glute exercise: the squat. But squats really are worth the hype. They target the glutes, hamstrings, adductors, core, and back while improving your overall coordination and mobility. Squats may even boost your testosterone levels, so there’s really no reason not to give them a try.

  1. Step Up

How to perform: Step up onto a bench or box that’s at knee height or slightly above. Forcing the heel down into the bench (or box), stand all the way up. Make sure you squeeze the glutes at the top of each rep with your hips in full extension and find control as you go back down. What you gain: This staple glute exercise targets the gluteus maximus with incredible accuracy. Not to mention, this cross-fit-like exercise will make you better at doing everyday things like walking up flights of stairs and give you the control to make the most out of every movement. By now, you’ve probably caught onto a significant theme with the bulk of these exercises, and that’s squeezing your glutes at the top. This is crucial for activating and isolating that muscle group and getting the full effect of each exercise.  

See more about - The 10 best fitness podcasts in 2021

  1. Kettlebell Swing

How to perform: After putting the kettlebell in front of you, take a slightly wider than hip-width stance. Bend at the hips and knees, getting a good, tight grip on the bell because you really don’t want it flying out and breaking some mirrors or windows. Or both. Tighten your upper body by engaging your core and lats. Then, hike the kettlebell back through your legs and swing it up, squeezing your glutes at the top. What you gain: Talk about explosive! This fiery movement requires a whole lot of hip and glute power. This exercise involves a triple extension – from the ankles, knees, and hips – that targets those glutes in one fluid motion. 

  1. Bulgarian Split Squat

How to perform: Load up a barbell and hold it on the backs of your shoulders, similar to a weighted squat position. Rest the top of your right foot on a bench or box behind you, with your back knee bent to 90 degrees. Keeping your core straight and engaged, bend your hips and left leg, lowering down until your back knee almost touches the floor.  What you gain: When doing a proper Bulgarian split squat with good form, your glutes don’t take a break. They support your knee, hip flexor, and help engage the rest of your lower body. Plus, since you’re focusing on keeping your core nice and tight, it’s an effective ab exercise as well. 

  1. Barbell Glute Bridge

How to perform: Lie on your back with your legs extended, roll the barbell up to your thighs until it’s sitting on your lap.  Tip: Try placing a towel or pad underneath the bar to protect your hips. Engage your core and drive your heels into the floor, extending your hips up until they’re in line with your torso. Squeeze glutes at the top and control yourself on the way down.  What you gain: Like a hip thrust, the weighted glute bridge will target the glutes without arching and overextending the back. Glute bridges can be used in conjunction with hip thrusts on glutes day. But if you’re new to working out, bridges may be better to start with since they have a smaller range of motion.

  1. Side-Lying Clamshell

How to perform: Start by lying on your side with your knees bent at a 90-degree angle. Put your heels together and open your knees as wide as you can without rotating in your back or pelvis. Lower back down with control. Clamshells can be done as a bodyweight warm-up, or you can turn up the intensity by using resistance bands or weights. What you gain: You may have seen your girl doing clamshells in her at-home Pilates workout, but they’re not to be slept on – she’s onto something. Side-lying clamshells primarily target your gluteus medius, which you can think of as the muscle on the side of the butt. While it might not be the biggest part of the bum, an inactive gluteus medius can cause lower back and knee issues, causing you to struggle with even the most basic of movements like walking.

  1. Single-Leg Romanian Deadlift

How to perform: Begin with your feet shoulder-width apart and knees slightly bent. Hold a kettlebell or dumbbell in one hand and raise that same side’s leg off the floor. Flex your supporting leg slightly to engage the glutes, holding that bend as you hinge at the hips and lower your torso until it’s nearly parallel to the floor. Squeeze your glutes, thrust your hips forward, and return to your starting position. What you gain: Split or single-leg exercises are ideal for getting more functional movements out of your training day. By focusing on a single leg, you work on your balance and ability to keep your center of gravity, strengthen vulnerable areas of the body like the ankle and knee, and become more adapted for quick performance in sports.

See more about - The 8 essential exrcises all men should do according to the experts

1. Barbell Hip Thrust

How to perform: To get in position, rest your upper back on a bench with a barbell across the hips. Ensure your hands have a firm grip underneath the bar and place your feet directly below the knees about a shoulder-width apart. Once you’re set, push your hips into the air while keeping your pelvis tucked under and your heels driving into the floor. Squeeze the glutes at the top of each rep. 

What you gain: Hip thrusts of any kind are one of those exercises that will make your glutes strong as hell because they isolate the gluteus maximus (the largest bum muscle), meaning that all of the power is coming from the glutes and your strong hip drive. Putting your weight in the back of your heels, rather than your toes, activates and isolates the gluteus muscles even more if you’re looking to up the ante. 

2. Sumo Deadlift

How to perform: Place your feet awkwardly wide outside of shoulder width, with your hips just above 90 degrees. Keep your arms long with scaps retracted and back flat to protect your spine and help you lift the bar. You’ll pull through the heels, similarly to a hip thrust, finishing with your hips all the way into extension and your glutes fired on.

What you gain: The sumo-style wide stance with toes and knees slightly pointed outward allows for greater glute activation than a typical deadlift. The sumo deadlift is also one that builds tension through the flexing and thrusting of the hips, which is perfect for building a better booty.

3. Walking Lunges

How to perform: You can perform walking lunges with a weight (dumbbell or kettlebell) in either hand or opt for using your own bodyweight. To perform this exercise, take long steps (aka lunges), keeping your chest slightly forward. Place all of your weight through the front heel and squeeze the glutes at the top of each rep.

What you gain: Walking lunges are an intense lower body exercise that should definitely be on your to-do list when glute day comes around. These lunges don’t only heavily target the glutes, but they also activate the rest of your lower body (calves and inner thighs included).

4. Squat

How to perform: Set your feet up slightly outside shoulder-width apart and rotate them outward. Push your hips back, forcing the knees out. Put mind to muscle, and think about spreading the floor and finishing with your glutes contracted and hips in full extension at the top.

What you gain: I mean, what kind of booty-building recommendation list would this be if we didn’t include the iconic glute exercise: the squat. But squats really are worth the hype. They target the glutes, hamstrings, adductors, core, and back while improving your overall coordination and mobility. Squats may even boost your testosterone levels, so there’s really no reason not to give them a try.

5. Step Up

How to perform: Step up onto a bench or box that’s at knee height or slightly above. Forcing the heel down into the bench (or box), stand all the way up. Make sure you squeeze the glutes at the top of each rep with your hips in full extension and find control as you go back down.

What you gain: This staple glute exercise targets the gluteus maximus with incredible accuracy. Not to mention, this cross-fit-like exercise will make you better at doing everyday things like walking up flights of stairs and give you the control to make the most out of every movement.

By now, you’ve probably caught onto a significant theme with the bulk of these exercises, and that’s squeezing your glutes at the top. This is crucial for activating and isolating that muscle group and getting the full effect of each exercise.

 

See more about - The 10 best fitness podcasts in 2021

See more about - The 10 best fitness podcasts in 2021

6. Kettlebell Swing

How to perform: After putting the kettlebell in front of you, take a slightly wider than hip-width stance. Bend at the hips and knees, getting a good, tight grip on the bell because you really don’t want it flying out and breaking some mirrors or windows. Or both. Tighten your upper body by engaging your core and lats. Then, hike the kettlebell back through your legs and swing it up, squeezing your glutes at the top.

What you gain: Talk about explosive! This fiery movement requires a whole lot of hip and glute power. This exercise involves a triple extension – from the ankles, knees, and hips – that targets those glutes in one fluid motion. 

7. Bulgarian Split Squat

How to perform: Load up a barbell and hold it on the backs of your shoulders, similar to a weighted squat position. Rest the top of your right foot on a bench or box behind you, with your back knee bent to 90 degrees. Keeping your core straight and engaged, bend your hips and left leg, lowering down until your back knee almost touches the floor. 

What you gain: When doing a proper Bulgarian split squat with good form, your glutes don’t take a break. They support your knee, hip flexor, and help engage the rest of your lower body. Plus, since you’re focusing on keeping your core nice and tight, it’s an effective ab exercise as well. 

8. Barbell Glute Bridge

How to perform: Lie on your back with your legs extended, roll the barbell up to your thighs until it’s sitting on your lap. 

Tip: Try placing a towel or pad underneath the bar to protect your hips. Engage your core and drive your heels into the floor, extending your hips up until they’re in line with your torso. Squeeze glutes at the top and control yourself on the way down. 

What you gain: Like a hip thrust, the weighted glute bridge will target the glutes without arching and overextending the back. Glute bridges can be used in conjunction with hip thrusts on glutes day. But if you’re new to working out, bridges may be better to start with since they have a smaller range of motion.

9. Side-Lying Clamshell

How to perform: Start by lying on your side with your knees bent at a 90-degree angle. Put your heels together and open your knees as wide as you can without rotating in your back or pelvis. Lower back down with control. Clamshells can be done as a bodyweight warm-up, or you can turn up the intensity by using resistance bands or weights.

What you gain: You may have seen your girl doing clamshells in her at-home Pilates workout, but they’re not to be slept on – she’s onto something. Side-lying clamshells primarily target your gluteus medius, which you can think of as the muscle on the side of the butt. While it might not be the biggest part of the bum, an inactive gluteus medius can cause lower back and knee issues, causing you to struggle with even the most basic of movements like walking.

10. Single-Leg Romanian Deadlift

How to perform: Begin with your feet shoulder-width apart and knees slightly bent. Hold a kettlebell or dumbbell in one hand and raise that same side’s leg off the floor. Flex your supporting leg slightly to engage the glutes, holding that bend as you hinge at the hips and lower your torso until it’s nearly parallel to the floor. Squeeze your glutes, thrust your hips forward, and return to your starting position.

What you gain: Split or single-leg exercises are ideal for getting more functional movements out of your training day. By focusing on a single leg, you work on your balance and ability to keep your center of gravity, strengthen vulnerable areas of the body like the ankle and knee, and become more adapted for quick performance in sports.

See more about - The 8 essential exrcises all men should do according to the experts