Side Stretch
Standing with feet hip-width apart and arms relaxed
- Level
- Beginner
- Movement
- Lateral stretch · Standing
- Tracks
- Duration
Works
Obliques Lats Lower Back Back
How to do it
- Stand with feet hip-width apart and arms relaxed at your sides.
- Reach one arm overhead and lean your torso laterally toward the opposite side.
- Keep your hips square and avoid leaning forward or backward.
- Hold the position briefly while breathing deeply into the stretched side.
- Return to the center and repeat on the other side.
Common mistakes
- Rotating the torso forward instead of bending purely sideways.
- Shrugging the shoulder up toward the ear during the reach.
- Bending the knees or shifting weight unevenly.
Safety
Ease into the stretch slowly and do not bounce.
Stop if you feel sharp pain in your back or side, and reduce the range.
Tips
- Imagine sliding your hand down a wall to maintain a flat plane.
- Keep both feet planted firmly to prevent hip hiking.
- Lengthen through the crown of your head rather than collapsing the shoulder.
Details
- Base movement
- Lateral stretch
- Legs
- Both
- Body position
- Standing
- Stance
- Shoulder-width
- Stretch type
- Static (held)
