Legs · Bodyweight
Curtsey Side Step
How to do the curtsey side step, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Bodyweight
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Logged as
- Reps
- Movement
- Lunge
- Mechanic
- Compound
How to do it
Stand tall, then step one foot back and across behind the other into a curtsey lunge, bending both knees. Push back up and step that foot out to the side, then repeat, flowing between the curtsey and the side step.
- 1Feel your glutes and outer hip load as you sink into the curtsey
- 2Push through the front heel to stand back up
- 3Keep your hips and chest square as you cross behind
Common mistakes
- Don't let the front knee cave inward
- Avoid letting your torso twist toward the crossing leg
- Don't lose balance by stepping too far across
Muscles worked
The curtsey side step mainly works the glutes, with the quads, hamstrings, and adductors assisting.
- GlutesPrimary
- QuadsSupport
- HamstringsSupport
- AdductorsSupport
- Lower BackMinor
- Upper AbsMinor
- Lower AbsMinor
- ObliquesMinor
- CalvesMinor
- Hip FlexorsMinor
Kovo programs the curtsey side step for you and tracks it every session.
We build your whole program, drop the right lifts into each workout, and adjust your weights as you get stronger. Free on iOS and Android.
More glutes exercises
- How to do the agility ladder drill
- How to do the airdyne bike
- How to do the arc trainer
- How to do the assault bike
- How to do the medicine ball atlas stone lift
- How to do the b stance hip thrust
Last reviewed June 2026.