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Benefits of Glute Training (functional mobility, not just aesthetics)

Amelia Dione
Sep 3, 2015
2 min read

When it comes to building a peachy behind, many people are focused on the athletics of building a full, rounded set of glutes. Yet we fail to learn the fundamental importance of this group of muscles and how beneficial they can be to our training as well as everyday life.

The glutes are made up of three muscles (in addition to the tensor fasciae latae):

Gluteus Maximus
Gluteus Medius
Gluteus Minimus

Combined the Gluteus Muscles provide our hips with a full range of motion. The glutes perform; hip extension (e.g. seated to standing position, or driving the leg backwards when walking), hip flexion (dropping down into a squat position or kicking a football), hip abduction and adduction (draws your thighs apart from each other and back together) and internal and external hip rotation (e.g. turning your thigh inward and outward) as well as stabilising our hips.

As you can see the glutes play a huge roll in everyday life, developed glutes will improve your posture correcting anterior and posterior pelvic tilt, they also take the pressure off your lower spine when you carry heavy loads or bend down to pick something up. In addition developed glutes will reduce injuries to your knees, hamstrings, spine and all lower body joints.

In terms of benefits to sporting abilities a strong set of glutes will help you sprint faster, jump higher, squat heavier by stabilising your hips and knees, take the pressure of your lower spine allowing you to deadlift heavier…. Just to name a few.

Also did you know the Gluteus Maximus is the largest muscle of your body? The more muscle mass you possess the faster your metabolism will be (ability to burn more calories for energy). A larger Glute Maximus will boost your metabolic rate.

So ladies and gents next time you’re at the gym training your legs do not forget the biggest muscle of your body entire body and its benefits to your total physique progression and wellbeing.

And I DON’T MEAN PERFORMING SQUATS! Squats are the most misrepresented exercise, their vertical loading actually activated your quads far more than your glutes. To train glutes effectively you need to understand their anatomy.

Stay tuned for my Glutes, Hamstrings and Quads “G.H.Q. eBook Phase 1” which will cover the effective exercises that build a powerful and perky set of glutes.