Here’s the nerdy explanation behind this move and why it works so well:

• Posterior Chain Activation (glutes, hamstrings, back) wakes up satellite cells—those tiny miracle workers that repair and regenerate muscle, which boosts metabolism and triggers anti-aging hormones.
• The movement also compresses and decompresses the pelvic floor rhythmically, which improves blood flow, reduces congestion, and stimulates hormone communication throughout the lower body.
• Because the move requires breath, focus, and deep muscle control, it activates the parasympathetic nervous system, lowering cortisol (the fat-storing, hormone-disrupting stress hormone).
• Strong glutes = more myokines released. These “muscle messengers” act like hormonal text messages telling your body to burn fat, reduce inflammation, and improve insulin sensitivity.
• It also engages neuromuscular pathways that improve pelvic alignment, posture, and lymphatic drainage—aka, your body’s detox highway.

Bottom line: this one move gives you more mobility, metabolism, mood, and muscle tone. That’s a quadruple win.

• 🔬 SCIENTIFIC REFERENCES

• 1. Muscle as an Endocrine Organ Pedersen, B. K., & Febbraio, M. A. (2012). Muscles, exercise and obesity: Skeletal muscle as a secretory organ. Nature Reviews Endocrinology, 8(8), 457–465. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2012.49 → Highlights how muscle contractions release myokines like IL-6, which impact fat metabolism, inflammation, and systemic hormonal balance.
  2. Strength Training and Cortisol Regulation Kraemer, W. J., Ratamess, N. A., & French, D. N. (2002). Resistance training for health and performance. Current Sports Medicine Reports, 1(3), 165–171. https://doi.org/10.1249/00149619-200206000-00009 → Discusses how structured resistance training reduces basal cortisol and supports better stress hormone regulation over time.
  3. Pelvic Floor Muscle Training and Hormonal Impact Bø, K. (2004). Pelvic floor muscle training is effective in treatment of female stress urinary incontinence, but how does it work? International Urogynecology Journal, 15(2), 76–84. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-004-1125-0 → While focused on incontinence, this study illustrates how neuromuscular activation of the pelvic floor impacts autonomic regulation and pelvic organ function—both influenced by hormones.
  4. Satellite Cells and Strength Training Kadi, F., & Ponsot, E. (2010). The biology of satellite cells and their role in muscle hypertrophy and regeneration. Sports Medicine, 40(6), 439–460. https://doi.org/10.2165/11534850-000000000-00000 → Resistance exercise increases satellite cell activation, which plays a role in tissue regeneration and anti-aging hormonal cascades.
  5. Posterior Chain and Hormonal Output West, D. W. D., & Phillips, S. M. (2012). Associations of exercise-induced hormone profiles and gains in strength and hypertrophy in a large cohort after weight training. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 112(7), 2693–2702. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-011-2246-z → Shows that compound posterior chain movements (like deadlifts and hip thrusts) spike anabolic hormones like growth hormone and testosterone.
  6. Myokines and Metabolic Regulation Eckel, J. (2019). Myokines in metabolic homeostasis and obesity. Pflügers Archiv - European Journal of Physiology, 471, 521–534. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00424-018-2222-2 → Muscle contractions stimulate secretion of myokines that regulate glucose metabolism, fat oxidation, and even influence reproductive hormones.
  7. Exercise and Cortisol in Midlife Women Puterman, E., Lin, J., Krauss, J., Blackburn, E. H., & Epel, E. S. (2010). Exercise buffers the association between chronic stress and telomere length. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 42(12), 2222–2230. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181f5e2b2 → Resistance and aerobic exercise reduce cortisol’s cellular aging effects and improve hormone resilience in women under stress.
  8. Neuromuscular Control of Pelvic Floor and Hormonal Regulation Resende, A. P. M., Petricelli, C. D., Tavares, J. M., et al. (2012). Pelvic floor muscle training is associated with improved sexual function and hormone health in women: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 9(6), 1710–1718. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2012.02742.x → Demonstrates that activating the pelvic floor improves not just physical function, but hormonal expression related to mood and desire.

• IN A NUTSHELL...

• Muscle is a hormone factory. It releases myokines that talk to your brain, gut, fat, and immune system.
• Posterior chain moves like thrusts and bridges boost growth hormone and lower cortisol when done right.
• Pelvic floor engagement improves the entire pelvic region's blood flow and nerve-hormone dialogue.
• Strength training wakes up satellite cells, which helps renew tissues and supports youthful function.