12/13/2025
Same exercise. A couple months apart. Very different result.
The biggest change here isn’t weight, reps, or even muscle. it’s hip mobility and control.
In the first clip, my hips were tight and doing most of the compensating. When your hips don’t move well, your low back takes over, your pelvis shifts, and the glutes never fully get the job. That’s when kickbacks turn into momentum instead of muscle.
Fast forward a couple months:
• More pelvic stability
• Better hip extension
• Slower, controlled reps
• Full range of motion
• Glutes actually doing the work
Hip mobility isn’t about being “flexible.” It’s about having access to the range you already own, then being strong and stable there. When your hips move better:
✔️ You can isolate the glute instead of arching your back
✔️ You reduce strain on the low back and SI joint
✔️ You build strength in the positions that actually shape and support your body
✔️ Your lifts feel smoother, stronger, and safer
This is why I prioritize:
– Hip flexor length + control
– Deep core + pelvic stability
– Slow eccentrics
– Intentional range of motion over heavier weight
Progress doesn’t always look like “more.”
Sometimes it looks like less momentum, more control, and better movement quality.
If your glutes “never activate,” your hips might be the missing link.
Slow down. Open the hips. Build strength where it counts. 💪🏼✨
