Exercises for a Firm Booty

Exercises for a Firm Booty
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If your problem area is your butt, you don't need to hide it in loose-fitting pants. With a variety of exercises designed to tone and strengthen the muscles in your buttocks, you can firm, tighten and lift your butt without any surgical procedures. Consult your doctor before starting a new exercise program.

Plie

Brazilian trainer Leandro Carvalho recommends the plie, a ballet exercise, to strengthen and tone the butt in a "Fitness" magazine article titled "5-Minute Workout: Brazilian Butt Lift." Stand with your toes turned out and your feet a little bit more than shoulder-width apart. As you tuck your butt in, slowly bend your knees and lower your body into a plie, or squat position. Go as low as possible without letting your knees go past your toes. As you lower yourself into the plie, raise your arms to the height of your shoulders with your palms down. Hold this position for two counts, then rise back to starting position. Repeat 20 times.

Split Lunge

The split lunge exercise will strengthen and lift the muscles in your butt, according to "Shape" magazine in an article titled "Bikini Butt Workout." Stand with the back of a chair to your right and place your right hand on the back of the chair. Place your legs into a lunge, with your right foot in front of your left foot and your feet at approximately the width of your hips. Lift your left heel off the ground to stretch your legs. Bend both knees until your left knee almost touches the floor. As you stand back up into a lunge position, clench your buttocks. Repeat for a total of 12 times.

Glute Squeeze

If you don't have time to hit the gym, perform glute squeezes on the couch or at your desk, says Nancy Kennedy of Kennedy and Strom Fitness in Los Angeles. Sit in a chair and contract all of the muscles in your butt. Hold this position for five counts, then release. Repeat for a total of 20 times and do three or four sets a day, says Kennedy. You'll start to notice results after about a month.

Touchdown

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, then bend both knees so they are at a 90-degree angle. As you bend your knees, raise your fists in front of your chest as if you were preparing to box. Step backward with your left leg as you balance yourself with your right hand. Place your hand either on the floor or on top of your right leg. Place your left hand out in front of you with your palm facing out in front of you. Your wrist should make a 90-degree angle. Return to the starting position, then repeat, lunging back with your right leg instead of your left leg. Continue alternating sides for one minute, says Carvalho.

References

Article reviewed by Eric Lochridge Last updated on: Dec 8, 2010

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