6 Butt Exercises That Are Also Great For Your Abs

Jeane Ellroy / Getty Images

Core, can you handle this? Legs, can you handle this? Butt, can you handle this? We think you CAN handle this! These six bootylicious moves are amazing exercises for strengthening and lifting your backside. They’re also good for working your core muscles. Each of the six moves below will challenge your midsection in a slightly different way, whether it’s a rotational twist that engages your obliques or a stability test that requires to you tighten your abs to help you stay balanced.

Add these butt + core moves to your routine and get ready to feel double the burn.

1. Curtsy Kick

Whitney Thielman

• Stand tall with feet hip-width apart.
• Step left leg diagonally behind right leg and bend knees to lower into a lunge. Keep spine long, shoulders rolled down, and back and abs tight.
• Push through right heel to stand, and sweep left leg out to side.
• Immediately move into the next rep. Don’t forget to do both sides.

2. Reverse Lunge With Twist

Whitney Thielman

• Start standing with feet hip-width apart. Hold a medium-weight dumbbell at chest height.
• Take a big step back with left foot and bend knees to lower into lunge while twisting torso over right (front) leg.
• Return to standing, then repeat with the opposite leg.
• While this GIF shows the exercise using a dumbbell, you can ditch the weight, too!

3. Goblet Squat

Whitney Thielman

• You’ll need a dumbbell or kettlebell for this move—choose a medium to heavy weight.
• Hold the weight at your chest in both hands and stand with feet hip-width to shoulder-width apart. Stand tall and engage core.
• Drop butt back and down and keep chest up. Sit back onto your heels without shifting weight forward onto the balls of feet. 
• Driving through heels, come back up to standing. Squeeze glutes at the top. 

4. Single-Leg Glute Bridge

Whitney Thielman

• Lie on back with knees bent and feet flat on the floor. 
• Lift left leg straight out and squeeze glutes, driving hips up. 
• Keep your leg lifted and lower your hips back down. Don’t forget to do both sides! 

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