Why You Should Do Modified Donkey Kicks, Even Though Busy Philipps Can’t Stand Them

Busy Philipps is seriously devoted to her own well-being—she's even starring in the upcoming Soul Cycle–inspired flick, I Feel Pretty. The actress is nearly religious about her a.m. cup of collagen-infused BulletProof coffee and getting in workouts at places like buzzy Los Angeles hot spot LEKfit (which she's documented on Instagram). But now, she's letting everyone in the body-sculpting exercises she loathes most: modified donkey kicks.

The modification—which involves moving the leg out to the side, as opposed to straight behind—is a fresh take on the classic sculpting move.

Quick fitness lesson: Donkey kicks are glute-sculpting move where you lift one leg back at a time, starting from tabletop position, to mimic, well, a donkey kicking. (Check out the Tone It Up girls doing their own twist on the move.) And since this tones your hamstrings, butt, and lower back, it's super-effective, but you will feel that burn.

According to Self, the actress recently took to her Instagram Stories to share a sweaty sneak peek from inside LEKfit, and when it was time to do modified donkey kicks—an excellent butt exercise, TBH—she mouthed to the camera "This is my least favorite, I don't love it." The modification—which involves moving the leg out to the side, as opposed to straight behind—is a fresh take on the classic sculpting move. It's worth trying, too: This slight tweak helps to work the smaller, lesser-worked muscles in the group, Self reports.

And while I totally understand why Philipps hates them—because they most-definitely are difficult—consider modified donkey kicks the exercise you love to hate instead. They're that good.

Steal more celebrity workouts, like Dakota Johnson's killer 30-minute routine or Gigi Hadid's boxing routine.

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