I'm fully aware of the glute-strengthening [1] benefits of deadlifts — but, to be frank, I'm sick of them. Since I'm nearing fatigue in most of my other go-to exercises, too, I'm turning to Pilates to target the muscles in my booty.

"Pilates is all about your powerhouse, which includes your core, glutes, hips, and pelvic floor," Jackie Aitken [2], a certified Pilates mat instructor with Obé Fitness [3], said. "While targeting your glutes in Pilates, you are also strengthening your hips, including your hamstrings, quads, inner, and outer thighs."

These muscles are typically addressed through precise, small movements, and Aitken says that if you perform Pilates exercises correctly, you'll end up getting a full-body workout, too.

You can make your at-home Pilates routine more glute-focused thanks to these four exercises from Aitken. Repeat each exercise on both sides of the body before moving onto the next move, and cycle through all four exercises two to three times.

Of course, you'll need to warm up first. "Classic Pilates Hundred [4] is a great warmup to find your core and get the blood flowing before any exercise," Aitken said. When it comes time to cool down from a glute workout, Aitken specifically suggests the Figure 4 Stretch on your back [5].

When completing this workout, remember to take rests as needed, listen to your body's cues, and stop if you feel any pain.

Front Lunge

• Begin with a front lunge stretch — back leg straight, front leg bent. Your knee should be stacked on top of the heel and tracking over the toes.
• Straighten and lengthen the front leg in a slow controlled pace, stretching the hip flexors while strengthening glutes and hamstring muscles.
• Modification: Start with both legs bent, then both legs straighten at the same time.
• Perform for 8 slow reps. Repeat on the other side.

Single Leg Bridge Heel Lift

• For this bridge series, your feet and legs should be together.
• With your hips lifted, extend one leg on a 45-degree angle, keeping knees together.
• Lift the supporting heel as you flex the extended foot.
• Perform 4 reps each leg, repeat for a total of 4 sets.

Tabletop Bent Leg Lifts on Forearms

• Your shoulders should be over your elbows, hips tracking over your knees.
• Bend the working leg towards your chest, then lengthen back behind you. Keeping everything parallel and square.
• Perform this exercise 15 times. Repeat on the other side.

Side Kneeling Leg Kick

• Your hips should be stacked on top of each other.
• Carry the leg forward as far as possible without moving your upper body.
• Then, carry to an extension behind you without losing control in your body or arching your back.
• Perform this move 8 times. Repeat on the other leg.