• Simple exercises will help you build gluteal muscles.sexy female body image by Leticia Wilson from Fotolia.com
  
  Shapely rear-ends gained popularity thanks to ample-bottomed celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez and Beyonce. The interest in butt augmentation and butt implants came shortly after. If you are looking for a permanent, non-invasive way to build your gluteal muscles, dedicated exercise is the only solution. The best exercises to build gluteal muscles are simple and, with continued use combined with a balanced and regulated diet, will give you a toned and lifted bottom.
  
  

Leg Bridge

• This simple exercise works your back, butt, hips and legs. Lie on the floor on your back --- use an exercise mat for extra support. Your knees should be bent so that your feet rest flat on the floor. Place your arms by your side, palms flat on the ground. Lift your hips toward the ceiling as far as you can so that your bottom is lifted off the ground, but your shoulders and arms are still on the ground. Lower your hips back to the ground. This counts as one rep. Once you get the hang of this exercise, try single leg bridges, where, in your starting position with your back on the floor, knees bent, palms down, you lift one leg to your chest and use the other to push yourself up into the bridge position.
  
  

Squats

• Squats are a popular gluteal building exercise because they are simple and easy to do at home or at the gym. Squats primarily work your gluteal muscles, quadriceps and hamstrings. To accomplish a squat, start standing upright with your feet planted on the ground shoulder-width apart. Slant your toes slightly outwards and let your arms hang by your side. Engage your abdominal muscles to maintain balance and slowly bend your knees and squat down as if you were sitting in a chair. Your chest should be up and out and your weight should be on your heels during the squat. Lower yourself until your thighs are parallel with the ground then raise yourself to your starting position. Improve the effectiveness of this exercise by holding dumbbells while you squat.
  
  

Lunges

• Lunges work your gluteal muscles, hips and legs. The standard lunge begins with you standing upright with your feet hip-width apart. Step forward with one leg, keeping your other leg in place and lower yourself until your knee is a few inches from the ground. Use your glute muscles to pull your forward leg back and end in the starting position. Repeating the process on the other side will result in the completion of one rep. Walking lunges are a variation of this exercise and are accomplished by starting in the same position, stepping forward and lowering, but then using the muscles in your front leg to pull yourself forward and step the leg that was in the back in the front to complete a second lunge. Repeat this "walking" pattern for multiple reps. Explosive lunges are for more advanced fitness routines. Start in your regular lunge starting position, then step forward and lower yourself as you would in a traditional lunge. Then jump up from the lunging position, switch your legs in midair and land with the opposite leg in front, then lower yourself into the lunge. Repeat the jump to switch legs to complete one rep.