Place a Bosu ball dome side up on the floor. Holding onto a weight plate at your belly, step onto the Bosu ball so that your feet are slightly narrower than shoulder width apart and you remain balanced on the ball. Squat low as if you are sitting into the squat (do NOT lean forward), and make sure to maintain as much contact with your heels and the Bosu ball as possible. If you do not have a weight plate, you can use a dumbbell, medicine ball or kettlebell, but keep it as close to your belly as possible to shift your center of gravity more posteriorly. When you come up from the squat position, only come up halfway, then go immediately into the next low squat.
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Discussion of Bump to Rump Video Series Exercise #7 – Swing Lunges
This exercise will challenge your balance, so I highly recommend performing this exercise without weights and your hands at your hips until you get accustomed to the movement. From a standing position, step into a front lunge, then immediately step into a back lunge with that same leg. Switch legs and repeat. As an option, you may wish to do all repetitions on one leg before switching, but I find that most people have better balance if they switch legs with each rep. The key to maintaining balance is to SQUEEZE your glutes when you perform these lunges and keep your hips level without twisting or bending.
For an extra blast on the glutes, you can do swing lunges with a pump. To do this, you will step into a front lunge, then pulse in a small movement at the peak of the lunge. Move immediately into the back lunge and pulse in a small movement at the peak. Don’t be surprised if your glutes burn at the end of a few sets of these!
Discussion of Bump to Rump Video Series Exercise #8 – Single Leg Dumbbell Deadlifts
Stand holding dumbbells at your sides and palms facing in. Another variation is to use one heavier dumbbell which would be held on the side of your supporting leg, with your other hand on your hip as you perform the movement. Bend forward at the hips as you raise one leg behind you, squeezing your glute as you do so. As you do this, bring the dumbbell(s) down so that they almost touch the floor, and pronate or twist your wrists so that your palms face your body as the weights come towards the floor. Return to start. Make sure to keep your knees soft throughout this movement, and if you have issues with your knees, maintain a slight bend in them. You will perform all repetitions on one leg before switching to the other side.
Discussion of Bump To Rump Video Series Exercise #9 – Side Single Leg Press
Sit on leg press machine so that you are supporting your upper body on one side instead of on your back, with your bottom leg nestled on the floor to add stability. Place your other foot on the foot plate so that your toes are near the side edge of the plate. Push plate up, emphasizing pushing through your HEEL and squeezing your glute as the plate moves up. Return to start. Perform all repetitions on one leg, then switch to other side. This is more challenging than a single leg press that is performed when you are on your back, so use a lighter weight and concentrate on your form. As long as you are driving through your heel and getting that glute squeeze in, you will feel the burn even with a light weight.
Try stacking side single leg presses in a superset with weighted bench step ups or swing lunges to really blast the glutes and hams.
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