What are the best buttock-raising exercises?

Exercises that tone and lift the gluteal muscles include dumbbell squats, explosive lunges, plies, single-leg squats, squats with kick-back and standing leg lifts, notes Fitness Magazine. Step-ups and sun salutations are also a great way to lift and tighten the butt while strengthening the legs and quadriceps.

Doing bridges can alleviate back pain while shaping the rear, says Shape Magazine. Many of these exercises have variants that depend on the exerciser's fitness level. The buttock is made up of three major muscles, including gluteus minimus, gluteus medius and gluteus maximus. The gluteus maximus is the biggest muscle in the body.