5 Different Squats to Tighter Toned Glutes

5 Different Squats To Tighter Toned Glutes

With summer approaching quicker than we’d like to think, it is time to start planning for our summer wardrobe. By this I mean shorts season, swimsuit shopping, aiming for those tighter, more shapely glutes!! These squats will work your glutes and leg muscles better than any amount of cardio! Not to mention they can be modified for beginners, or performed with a heavier weight to make them more difficult depending on your preference and fitness capabilities.

• Body Weight Squats
  This is a regular squat with zero exercise equipment. There are no dumbbells or barbells involved. Get into basic squat form, feet shoulder width apart, feet slightly pointed out, squat down to where your knees reach a 90 degree angle and try to maintain the weight through your heels as you push yourself back up to start. Remember to maintain a flat back throughout the exercise and try not to slouch forward or lean back.
• Plie Squats
  In this squat your feet need to be wider than shoulder width apart with feet angled outward. Same rules apply of a regular squat apply to this one. Be sure to keep your back in line, chest up, and you are going to bend your knees more outward than straight. This is going to target your inner thighs significantly. To make it more difficult, grab some weights!
• Sissy Squats Get into basic squat form, squat, and once you reach the bottom of the squat, instead of coming back up all the way only come half way up, keeping the tension in your quads, and then lower back down into the squat. Repeat this multiple times to “pulse”.  You will really feel the burn with this one!
• Plyometric Squats or Jump Squats This type of squat will really increase your heart rate. Using the same form as a body weight squat, squat down, but when you get to the bottom of the squat, you are going to explode up and jump high.
• Barbell Squats
  This type of squat is a pretty advanced exercise also known as the more traditional squat. Put the barbell on your shoulders, mostly resting on your trapezius muscle, the “traps”. This squat is done with normal squat form, but the reason it is more advanced is because it allows you to add a significant amount of weight. When doing this squat remember to find that comfortable foot stance, squat down to where your knees reach a 90 degree angle and try to maintain the weight through your heels as you push yourself back up to start. Remember to maintain a flat back throughout the exercise, keeping your chest up, and try not to slouch forward or lean back.

For more tips on obtaining tighter toned glutes, eating healthy, weight training, health and wellness, or if you’re frustrated with your current level of fitness and have been thinking about hiring a personal trainer, contact us.