Dumbbell Glutes Workout for Beginners
A dumbbell glutes workout for beginners that you can do at home or in the gym with a pair of dumbbells. 5 exercises, about 31 minutes, targeting glutes, hamstrings.
| Level | Beginner |
| Equipment | Dumbbell |
| Time | About 31 minutes |
| Muscles | Glutes, Hamstrings |
The workout
| Exercise | Sets / reps |
|---|---|
| 1. Butt Lift (Bridge) | 3 × 10 |
| 2. Glute Kickback | 3 × 10 |
| 3. Stiff-Legged Dumbbell Deadlift | 3 × 10 |
| 4. Step-up with Knee Raise | 3 × 10 / side |
| 5. Flutter Kicks | 3 × 10 |
See each exercise
How to do this workout
- Warm up for 5 minutes: brisk walk or easy cardio, then one light set of the first exercise.
- Do the exercises in order. Finish all sets of one before moving on.
- Use a weight you could lift for 2–3 more reps than written. Rest 60–90 seconds between sets.
- Do this workout 1–2 times a week, with at least one rest day before training the same muscles again.
How to progress
When you can do every set with good form at the top of the rep range, add one rep per set the next week, or a small amount of weight (1–2.5 kg). Progress slowly — consistent small jumps beat big ones. For fat loss, pair this with a small calorie deficit and around 1.6–2 g of protein per kg of body weight.
Exercise notes
1. Butt Lift (Bridge)
Lie flat on the floor on your back with the hands by your side and your knees bent. Your feet should be placed around shoulder width. This will be your starting position. Pushing mainly with your heels, lift your hips off the floor while keeping your back straight. Breathe out as you perform this part of the motion and hold at the top for a second.
2. Glute Kickback
Kneel on the floor or an exercise mat and bend at the waist with your arms extended in front of you (perpendicular to the torso) in order to get into a kneeling push-up position but with the arms spaced at shoulder width. Your head should be looking forward and the bend of the knees should create a 90-degree angle between the hamstrings and the calves. This will be your starting position. As you exhale, lift up your right leg until the hamstrings are in line with the back while maintaining the 90-degree angle bend. Contract the glutes throughout this movement and hold the contraction at the top for a second. Tip: At the end of the movement the upper leg should be parallel to the floor while the calf should be perpendicular to it.
3. Stiff-Legged Dumbbell Deadlift
Grasp a couple of dumbbells holding them by your side at arm's length. Stand with your torso straight and your legs spaced using a shoulder width or narrower stance. The knees should be slightly bent. This is your starting position.
4. Step-up with Knee Raise
Stand facing a box or bench of an appropriate height with your feet together. This will be your starting position. Begin the movement by stepping up, putting your left foot on the top of the bench. Extend through the hip and knee of your front leg to stand up on the box. As you stand on the box with your left leg, flex your right knee and hip, bringing your knee as high as you can.
5. Flutter Kicks
On a flat bench lie facedown with the hips on the edge of the bench, the legs straight with toes high off the floor and with the arms on top of the bench holding on to the front edge. Squeeze your glutes and hamstrings and straighten the legs until they are level with the hips. This will be your starting position.
More workouts like this
Gear for this workout
Adjustable dumbbellsA full home gym in one small space.See it on Amazon →
Adjustable workout benchUnlocks presses, rows and step-ups at home.See it on Amazon →Stop if anything hurts (sharp pain is different from muscle burn). If you have an injury or health condition, check with your GP or a physio first.