Saturday, 30 July 2016

The Best Exercises for a Super-Sculpted Butt



When I start working with a new client, I ask them what their fitness goals are so that I can get them the results they desire. The vast majority of the time I hear, “I want a toned butt.” Getting a booty that rivals Beyonce, Kim Kardashian, or J. Lo is at the top of my clients’ wish list, but aside from doing squat challenge after squat challenge, most are unaware of the other highly effective tush toning exercises. If you’re like my clients, it’s time to put the squats to rest and add some variety to your fitness routine with 8 booty-blasting moves. These exercises are easy to learn, target important muscles in your glutes and hamstrings, and, most importantly, will give you a firmer bum in no time.

Warrior III


Stand with your feet together, and lift up the left leg with a pointed toe, putting your body weight onto the standing right leg. Continue lifting your leg and drop your head and torso so they form a straight horizontal line from head to toe with the arms at your sides. Engage your core and make sure the left thigh, hip, and toes are aligned. Remain facing down and keep your back as straight as possible. Make sure your right knee doesn’t lock and centre the weight on the middle of the foot. Hold this pose for 5 breaths and then slowly return to standing. Switch legs and repeat. Routine and photo by: Rebecca Toback / Health


Low Lunge Hover


Begin by standing with feet hip-width apart before stepping your right foot back, and lowering into lunge stance with the left knee over the ankle. Bring your arms over your head and hinge forward from the waist. Lower the chest forward toward the thighs as your arms reach forward. Lift the right leg while straightening the left. Hold for 3 breaths before returning to the starting lunge position. Do 3 reps; switch legs and repeat. Routine and photo by: Rebecca Toback / Jay Sullivan


Explosive Lunges


Start with feet together and your hands on your hips. Then lunge forward with your right leg. Jump up, switch legs in midair, and land with your left leg in a forward lunge. Continue these explosive lunges, alternating sides, for one minute. Remember to keep your fists up in front of your chin and push off the floor with both feet. Your front knee should be bent 90 degrees and aligned over your ankle. Routine and photo by: Lexi Walters / Oxygen


Hip Bridge


Lie face-up with your knees bent, feet flat on the floor hip-width apart, and arms by sides, palms facing down. Engage abs, tilt pelvis toward the ceiling, and slowly begin lifting hips and back off the floor until your knees, hips, and shoulders form a straight line. Hold for 1 breath and then slowly return to starting position. Repeat for 15 reps. Routine and photo by: Kylie Gilbert / David Martinez  


Marching Hip Raise


Lie face-up on the floor with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Raise your hips so your body forms a straight line from your shoulders to knees. Lift one knee to your chest, lower your back, and lift the other knee to your chest. Continue to alternate back and fourth. Routine and photo by: Casey Gueren / Women’s Health


Swiss-Ball Hip Raise and Curl


Begin face-up on the floor and place your lower legs and heels on a Swiss ball. Push your hips up so that your body forms a straight line from your shoulders to your knees. Without pausing, pull your heels toward you and roll the ball as close as possible to your butt. Pause for 2 seconds; then reverse the motion, by rolling the ball back until your body is in a straight line. Lower your hips back to the floor. Perform 3 sets of 10 reps. Routine and photo by: Casey Gueren / Women’s Health


Dumbbell Deadlift


Set a pair of dumbbells on the floor in front of you. Bend at your hips and knees, and grab the dumbbells with an overhand grip. Without allowing your lower back to round, stand up with the dumbbells. Lower the dumbbells to the floor. Routine and photo by: Casey Gueren / Women’s Health


Chair Twist


Start by standing with your feet together. Bend your knees and push the hips back, while making sure the knees stay behind the toes. Lower the thighs until they’re almost parallel with the floor and raise your arms forward and up. Then, rotate the torso to the right side and place the left elbow on the outside of your right knee. Hold the pose for 3 breaths and return to the starting position. Routine and photo by: Rebecca Toback / Jay Sullivan

Photo credit: Jen Selter

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