Hold it out wide and let your glute burn.
Lead with the heel and keep your torso upright, don't lean away from the lifted leg.
Holding one leg straight out to the side is a pure isometric for the glutes, especially the outer fibres that handle hip abduction, which have to fight gravity for every second of the hold. The standing side works just as hard, keeping your hips level while the other leg hangs in space. It suits warm-ups, hip stability work and finishers where you want time under tension without any equipment.
Start with 15 to 20 seconds per side with your hips staying level, and build from there. The hold only counts while your form holds, so stop when your torso starts leaning away.
Hip abduction range is naturally limited, and past a certain point your torso leans to fake extra height. Height is not the goal, a level pelvis and a squeezed glute are.
Different job. Raises build reps and motion, the hold builds pure time under tension and stability on both hips at once. Use whichever fits the session, or both.
