Prone Glute Squeeze

A simple glute exercise performed lying on your stomach to improve glute awareness, build a stronger mind-muscle connection, and reinforce controlled hip extension without needing equipment.

Muscles Targeted

Gluteus maximus, deep hip stabilizers, hamstrings, and trunk stabilizers.

Key Benefits

  • Improves glute awareness and mind-muscle connection
  • Helps teach isolated glute contraction without compensation
  • Can be useful early in rehab or during warm-ups
  • Requires no equipment and is easy to perform anywhere
The goal is to squeeze the glutes without excessively arching the low back or rotating the pelvis.

Equipment Needed

No equipment needed.

How to Perform Prone Glute Squeeze

  1. Lie flat on your stomach with both legs relaxed.
  2. Keep your hips and pelvis still against the floor.
  3. Squeeze one or both glutes firmly.
  4. Hold the squeeze briefly without lifting the leg or arching your back too much.
  5. Relax and repeat with controlled contractions.

Programming Options

  • 2–3 sets of 8–15 reps
  • Hold each squeeze for 1–3 seconds
  • Can be used in a warm-up, rehab plan, or glute-focused strength routine

Why This Exercise Works

The prone position reduces balance demands and makes it easier to focus on a clean glute contraction. That can be especially helpful for people who struggle to feel their glutes working during bridges, squats, or hip extension drills.

When to Use It

Use this exercise when you want a simple glute drill for warm-ups, early-stage rehab, low back or hip rehab progressions, or to improve glute recruitment before bigger lower-body exercises.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should I feel this exercise most?

You should mainly feel it in the glutes. You should not feel the low back doing most of the work.

Should I lift my leg during the squeeze?

No. This variation is more about learning to contract the glutes well than creating a big visible movement.

Can I use this as part of a warm-up?

Yes. It works well before glute bridges, squats, lunges, running drills, and other lower-body exercises.