13 Bum Exercises to Build Stronger Glutes

Having a covetable bum might be enough motivation to get your rear in gear and start moving. But a toned behind is hardly the only reason you should be doing squats, bridges, and other booty-boosting moves.

“Glutes are the powerhouse in our posterior chain, aka, the backside of your body, and generate maximum efficiency and power during workouts,” says personal trainer Aaron de Jong. And along with making your workouts better, a strong bum helps make your daily life feel a little easier and more comfortable. You're also more likely to avoid injury and have less lower back pain with rock-solid glutes.

“Your glutes are technically part of your core and help with all your everyday activities: walking, going up stairs, getting up, sitting down,” says personal trainer Mike Donavanik.

The best way to work your rear is to approach it with different moves that challenge all bum muscles from different angles. We all know the gluteus maximus (the largest muscle in your bum) but the bum is actually made up of more muscles, like the gluteus medius and gluteus minimus, that can be targeted differently.

These bum exercises will strengthen every square inch of your rear from side to side, front to back, and in rotation. Weighted moves, like single-leg deadlifts, will add muscle while bodyweight exercises, like bird dogs, strengthen smaller stabilising muscles. Aim to do three to five sets of each exercise, with 12 to 20 reps for each bodyweight or resistance band exercise, and eight to 12 reps for moves with weights.