What if we told you your glutes weren't only the foundation of a healthier set of legs but also part of having a strong, functional core? That's right: as important , your glutes act as a crucial part of your core — the "powerhouse of your body," says , creator of The Stoked Method and the KSFit app. This means that exercises that strengthen or improve the mobility of your glutes are benefiting your entire body. And while you may see that call for heavy weights or other equipment, there are plenty of bodyweight glute exercises that can effectively train the glutes.
Plus, bodyweight glute exercises can help you build your mind-muscle connection and let you practice proper form with less of an injury risk, so they're always good to have in your routine, even if you're comfortable with heavier weights. Before we get into the bodyweight glute moves, a quick primer: your glutes aren't just a singular muscle; there are actually three. "Your glutes are the largest muscle in your posterior chain and made up of three muscles: the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, and gluteus minimus," Stokes explains.
"These three muscles work together to provide foundational strength for the lower body in order to perform both athletic movements and daily tasks in life." If you suffer from , for instance — especially from sitting for long periods — you might need to wake up your glutes. "Strengthening your glutes can help reduce or eliminate low-back pain by providing support for your low-back m.