Welcome to our weekly Move of the Week series. Every Monday, we’ll be sharing with you one of our favourite exercises – how to do them, what muscles they work and why they should be a regular part of your workout regime. This week: lateral stretches.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again – the body needs 360° care. That means we can’t think about the front and the back, but the side of our bodies need some love too. And it feels damn good when the lats, obliques and hips get some attention after a long night’s sleep or day compressed at the desk. The best way to get that relief? A simple lateral side stretch.
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What is a lateral stretch?
A lateral stretch is a standing exercise that involves lifting one arm to head height and reaching it up and over your head.
This exercise is great because:
It stretches the side of the body: which is often neglected but commonly tight from workouts and poor posture.
It can be done anywhere: you need no kit, and it’s even an office-friendly yoga posture as it requires no eye-raising positioning.
It can reduce pain: if your back is feeling stiff and sore from sitting all day, a side stretch can ease lateral flexion of the spine.
What muscles do lateral stretches?
A lateral stretch targets the side of the body, including:
- Lats
- Obliques
- Intercostal muscles (between the ribs)
- Hip abductors
- Glute medius
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How to do lateral stretches
- Stand tall, draw your stomach to your spine and roll your shoulders down and back.
- Lift your left arm up straight so your bicep is next to your ear and let your right arm hang down by your side.
- Lean your upper body to the right so your left arm reaches over your head. Keep your hips facing forwards so you don’t twist through the spine.
- Hold for a few seconds and repeat on the other side.
Images: Stylist
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