There's a guy in New York City nicknamed the 'butt master'. Men want his job. Women want his help. And all he did to become this popular was set up the Brazilian Butt Lift class.

Leandro Carvalho, who hails from Brazil, is a dancer by profession. His speciality is combining the rhythms of samba (considered Brazil's national music), Axe (an Afro-Brazilian beat) and Bahia (a Brazilian state).

He also conducts fitness classes that have drawn celebrities like Sting, Tom Hanks and John McEnroe.

His most popular class is called Brazilian Groove and it has students burning calories to a samba beat.

Carvalho has been quoted as saying: 'Brazilian dance movements are very sexy. It all has to do with the hips and shoulders and combining the movements together in a very sensuous way.'

When approached by Glamour magazine to outline some butt-enhancing exercises, he listed the ones modelled here by Planet Fitness' marketing manager Evelyn Brunner, 31.

Do them three times a week and ramp up the overall benefit by doing 30 minutes of cardio three or four times a week.

For butts that are higher...

CAPOEIRA SQUAT

How to do it: With your feet more than shoulder-width apart, do a squat and hold for a count of four. Then, place your left hand on the floor and go into a lunge as you step back with your right leg. Hold this position for a count of four and return to the start position. Do this eight times on each side.

SQUAT ARABESQUE

How to do it: With your feet kept shoulder-width apart, do a squat. Hold for a count of one and, as you return to the start position, lift your arms to head level and bend forward from the waist as you lift your left leg behind you. Return to the start position and repeat on the other side. Do this cycle 15 times.

...rounder

DIAMOND LEG LIFTS

How to do it: After your muscles are warmed up, lie on a bench face down with your lower body off it. Holding onto the bench with both hands, keep your heels together, bend your knees out to the sides and slowly lift your legs as high as you can. Hold for a count of two and return to the start position. Do this 20 times, adding 20 tiny pulses up and down on the last rep.

...tighter

SIDE SQUAT WITH KNEE LIFT

How to do it: With your feet kept shoulder-width apart, do a squat. Hold for a count of one and return to the start position. Do this 20 times. Repeat the squatting movement - this time, shift your weight to the right leg as you come up, raise the left knee and lift your arms overhead in a circular motion from the sides before returning to the start position. Do this 20 times on each side.

This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times on July 17, 2008.