How to Build Upper Glutes? | Best Exercises and Tips

 

How to Build Upper Glutes: Best Exercises and Tips

The upper glutes, specifically the gluteus medius and gluteus minimus, play a crucial role in shaping your butt, enhancing hip stability, and supporting overall lower body strength. Building the upper glutes can improve your posture, athletic performance, and help you achieve that lifted, rounded look many desire. To effectively target the upper glutes, you need to focus on specific exercises and techniques that isolate and activate this area.

Below are the best exercises and tips to help you build your upper glutes.

Top Exercises to Build Upper Glutes

1. Hip Abduction (Machine or Band)

   • How It Works: This exercise directly targets the gluteus medius by moving your legs away from your body, isolating the upper part of the glutes.
   • How to Do It:
     1. Sit on a hip abduction machine or use a resistance band around your thighs just above your knees.
     2. Spread your legs apart, pressing against the resistance.
     3. Slowly return to the starting position.
     4. Repeat for 3 sets of 12-15 reps.
   • Tip: Squeeze your glutes at the top of the movement and avoid rushing through the exercise.

2. Side-Lying Clamshells

   • How It Works: This exercise isolates the gluteus medius, helping to strengthen and shape the upper part of your glutes.
   • How to Do It:
     1. Lie on your side with knees bent at a 90-degree angle and a resistance band around your thighs.
     2. Keep your feet together and open your top knee towards the ceiling.
     3. Lower your knee back down to the starting position.
     4. Perform 3 sets of 15-20 reps on each side.
   • Tip: Keep your core engaged and focus on the slow, controlled movement.

3. Single-Leg Romanian Deadlift

   • How It Works: This unilateral exercise targets the upper glutes by challenging stability and balance, activating the gluteus medius as you perform the movement.
   • How to Do It:
     1. Stand on one leg while holding a dumbbell or kettlebell in the opposite hand.
     2. Hinge at your hips, lowering the weight towards the floor while extending your free leg back.
     3. Squeeze your glutes as you return to the starting position.
     4. Perform 3 sets of 10-12 reps per leg.
   • Tip: Keep your back flat and avoid rounding your shoulders. Focus on pushing through the heel of the standing leg.

4. Curtsy Lunges

   • How It Works: Curtsy lunges engage the upper glutes by incorporating a cross-body motion that challenges lateral stability and activates the gluteus medius.
   • How to Do It:
     1. Stand with your feet hip-width apart.
     2. Step one foot diagonally behind your other leg, lowering into a lunge position.
     3. Push through your front heel to return to the starting position.
     4. Perform 3 sets of 12-15 reps on each side.
   • Tip: Keep your torso upright and focus on squeezing your glutes at the top of the movement.

5. Banded Glute Bridge with Abduction

   • How It Works: The glute bridge primarily works the gluteus maximus, but adding abduction (leg spreading) with a resistance band effectively activates the upper glutes.
   • How to Do It:
     1. Place a resistance band around your thighs and lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground.
     2. Lift your hips towards the ceiling, squeezing your glutes at the top.
     3. While holding the bridge, press your knees outward against the resistance band, then bring them back in.
     4. Lower your hips back down and repeat for 3 sets of 15-20 reps.
   • Tip: Focus on the abduction (pressing your knees outward) to feel the burn in your upper glutes.

6. Cable Kickbacks (Diagonal)

   • How It Works: Standard cable kickbacks target the gluteus maximus, but performing diagonal kickbacks shifts the focus to the gluteus medius and upper glutes.
   • How to Do It:
     1. Attach an ankle strap to a low cable pulley machine.
     2. Stand facing forward and kick your leg back and diagonally outward in a 45-degree angle.
     3. Squeeze your glutes at the top of the movement.
     4. Perform 3 sets of 12-15 reps on each side.
   • Tip: Maintain a slow and controlled motion to fully engage the upper glutes.

7. Side-Lying Leg Raises

   • How It Works: This simple but effective exercise isolates the upper glutes and helps to tone and shape the sides of your hips.
   • How to Do It:
     1. Lie on your side with your legs extended.
     2. Raise your top leg upwards, keeping it straight.
     3. Slowly lower it back down to the starting position.
     4. Perform 3 sets of 15-20 reps on each side.
   • Tip: Keep your movements controlled and focus on engaging your upper glutes throughout the exercise.

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Training Tips for Building Upper Glutes

1. Mind-Muscle Connection:

   • Focus on engaging the upper glutes during each exercise. Visualize the muscles contracting and try to actively squeeze them with each rep.

2. Add Resistance:

   • Progressively increase resistance to continue challenging the muscles. Use resistance bands, dumbbells, or ankle weights to make the exercises more difficult over time.

3. Use Compound and Isolation Movements:

   • Incorporate both compound movements (like squats and lunges) and isolation exercises (like clamshells and hip abductions) to target all areas of the glutes.

4. Train Multiple Times per Week:

   • Train your glutes 2-3 times per week for the best results, allowing at least 48 hours of rest between workouts.

5. Prioritize Proper Form:

   • Proper form is crucial to avoid injury and effectively target the right muscles. Focus on slow, controlled movements and avoid using momentum.

6. Add Variations:

   • Incorporate different variations of glute exercises to avoid plateaus and ensure you're constantly challenging the muscles.

7. Nutrition and Recovery:

   • Building muscle requires a calorie surplus and adequate protein intake to support muscle recovery and growth. Focus on a balanced diet rich in lean protein, healthy fats, and complex carbs.
   • Rest and recovery are essential for muscle growth, so make sure to get enough sleep and give your muscles time to repair.

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Sample Upper Glutes Workout Routine

Here’s a simple workout to help you focus on building your upper glutes. Perform this routine 2-3 times a week.

Warm-Up (5 minutes)

• Dynamic stretches and light cardio (walking, cycling, etc.)
• Bodyweight squats – 2 sets of 15 reps
• Leg swings – 10 each side

Workout (3 sets of each exercise)

1. Banded Glute Bridge with Abduction – 3 sets of 15-20 reps
2. Side-Lying Clamshells – 3 sets of 15-20 reps per side
3. Side-Lying Leg Raises – 3 sets of 15-20 reps per side
4. Curtsy Lunges – 3 sets of 12-15 reps per leg
5. Hip Abduction (Machine or Band) – 3 sets of 12-15 reps
6. Cable Diagonal Kickbacks – 3 sets of 12-15 reps per leg

Cool Down (5 minutes)

• Stretching the glutes, hips, and hamstrings
• Hold each stretch for 30 seconds per side

Conclusion

Building your upper glutes requires targeted exercises that engage the gluteus medius and gluteus minimus. By incorporating the right exercises, using resistance, and focusing on proper form, you can develop the strength and shape of your upper glutes. Pair these exercises with a balanced diet and consistent training, and you’ll notice progress in the tone, strength, and lift of your glutes.