Do you have a Lazy Butt?

I see it a lot when training clients, both 1:1 and in groups - people one or both weak glute muscles - that's the muscle in your butt!  This can cause more serious pain and injury down the leg and into the foot if not corrected.  I learned this the hard way with a foot injury and weak knee which required physio to fix.

Strengthening up the glute muscle will help it take the workload it is designed for, instead of it being lazy and making the smaller muscles do all the work and then overload those muscles leading to injury in the leg, knee, or ankle.

One of the best exercises for strengthening the glute is the Squat.  You can do this in a number of ways:
*Using a fitball against the wall.
*Using your own body weight.
*Holding onto dumbbells
*Using the barbell across your shoulders at the studio or gym
*Holding a weight in front of your chest.
*Standing on one leg.

Remember to always push through your heels to ensure your knees don't stray forward of your toes.  This ensures that the butt is doing the work it is meant to!

If you think you have a weak glute muscle, it is best to get it checked with your Personal Trainer or Physio, who can offer you specific strengthening exercises to correct your muscle weakness.