Want Strong Glutes? You Need These 9 Strengthening Exercises.

"Your glutes support you whether you're sitting, standing, walking, running or pretty much any other means of movement. Conversely, prolonged lack of movement-such as sitting in your car, at your desk, or on your couch-can contract and tighten these muscles and lead to low back pain, limited range of motion in the hip flexors, and stiff knee joints over time. Of course, this doesn't mean sitting is "bad"-keeping the body in any one position for too long can cause discomfort."

"Warm up your body before practicing these glute exercises with your preferred stretches or more dynamic movement such as Sun Salutation A. 1. Airplane Kicks Come to your hands and knees and tuck your toes for more stability. Hug your outer shins in and draw your navel in toward your spine. Reach your right arm forward at shoulder height with your palm facing in and your fingers spread wide. Reach your left heel toward the back wall and flex your foot."

Glute muscles support sitting, standing, walking, running, and most movements but often become inactive during prolonged sitting. Inactivity can contract and tighten glutes, causing low back pain, limited hip-flexor range of motion, and stiff knee joints over time. Keeping the body in any one position for too long can cause discomfort. Balancing inactivity with glute-strengthening and stretching exercises improves muscular support for the body. A sequence of nine yoga-based exercises is recommended, beginning with warming up and including movements such as Airplane Kicks and revolved standing poses to activate, strengthen, and stretch the glutes.

Read at Yoga Journal