The Romanian deadlift is all about the hip hinge, which is an important functional movement pattern and is also the best way to target your glutes. The key here is to keep your knees softly bent, but not to bend them too much more.
How to Do a Romanian Deadlift:
- Stand holding a pair of medium-weight dumbbells (six to 20 pounds) in each hand in front of your hips with your knees slightly bent.
- Keeping your arms straight and knees slightly bent, slowly bend forward from your hips to lower the weights along the front of your legs. Pause when you feel a stretch in the back of your legs, or when the weights are at about shin height.
- Squeeze your glutes to lift your torso up and return to the starting position, keeping your back flat.
- That's one rep. Do three sets of 12 reps.
