Sitting Side Bend on a chair

Description

How to do Sitting Side Bend on a chair

1. 01
   Setup

   Sit tall on a chair with your feet flat on the floor, hip-width apart. Ensure your back is straight and your core is lightly engaged.

2. 02
   Setup

   Place your right hand on your head, lightly touching your ear, and let your left arm hang relaxed or place it on the side of the chair for stability.

3. 03

   Inhale, then as you exhale, slowly bend your torso directly to your left side, reaching your left hand towards the floor while keeping your hips firmly on the chair.

4. 04

   Focus on feeling the stretch along your right side and the contraction in your left oblique.

5. 05

   Inhale as you slowly return to the upright starting position, maintaining control throughout the movement.

6. 06

   Repeat on the opposite side, placing your left hand on your head and bending to your right.

Tips

• Maintain a stable lower body by keeping both glutes firmly pressed into the chair throughout the entire movement.
• Avoid rotating your torso forward or backward; the bend should be purely lateral, as if moving between two panes of glass.
• Control your breathing: exhale as you bend to deepen the stretch and contraction, and inhale as you return to the starting position.
• Only bend as far as comfortable, prioritizing a controlled movement and a good stretch over extreme range of motion to protect your spine.

Common mistakes

• Rounding the back or leaning forward during the bend reduces oblique engagement; ensure your chest stays open and your shoulders remain stacked over your hips as you bend laterally.
• Lifting a hip off the chair compromises stability and reduces the stretch; keep both hips grounded to isolate the movement to your torso.
• Holding your breath creates unnecessary tension; remember to exhale as you bend and inhale as you return to maintain proper diaphragmatic breathing.