Ellipticals can be used to help you tone your buttocks. If your goal in using your elliptical is to tone your glutes, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, you will want to set the elliptical to a higher resistance level, since it will help you build more muscle. As you are working out on the elliptical, make sure your whole foot stays flat against the footpad. You should also press your foot down at your heels during your workout to improve the results you get.