Love for the bum

By: Brittany Patrick, Columnist 

In the grip of modern society and its associated (and hardly attainable) beauty standards, we, especially women, often forget that our body is a thing of great energy, strength and power.

Our body is a place we call home. It is unique and it requires love and nourishment for proper function no different than your mind and soul. The more you care for your body, the more it will care for you in turn.

So, I’m going to share some tips for giving love to one area of the body in particular – your butt!

First and foremost, take the stairs. Every muscle in your lower body is activated when walking up stairs.

Stairs tone, tighten and lift your butt while adding definition to your legs. Play around by skipping steps, upping your speed, climbing laterally and even backwards! Explosive movements = key. I’m talking squat jumps, sprints and burpees.

Your body is the most powerful piece of equipment with which you’ve been blessed, and because your body in itself is a tool, you can do these workouts anywhere and everywhere (just make sure to land lightly and protect yourself from injuries)!

That being said, just when you think you can’t go any further, do three more. Often times, your mind is the one that decides when your body can’t take the heat, so don’t get tricked into forgetting that your body is a powerhouse capable of so much more than you lead yourself on to believe.

Also, don’t forget to stretch! It’s important to show your body some love by stretching. This will help you feel open, lengthened, strong, and will help with your posture too. Now get that cute butt of yours to a yoga class, pronto.

Next on the list, dry brush! The simple act of brushing your skin with a natural bristle body brush for just a few minutes per day has benefits that go way beyond the surface.

So, if a little bit of cellulite is keeping you from parading around in a cheeky bikini, get yourself a dry brush and watch the magic happen!

Last but never least, love yourself. Confidence radiates from within.

If you realize that your body is beautiful, no matter at what stage you’re in during your fitness journey, so will others.

Love and appreciate your body and all of its effort, and you’ll be assured that you have the cutest butt of them all.