Standing Lateral Stretch
Lengthen your latissimus dorsi and improve spinal flexibility with the Standing Lateral Stretch.
Variations of Standing Lateral Stretch
Standing Side Stretch
Improve spinal flexibility and target your obliques and lats with the Standing Side Stretch. This gentle stretch enhances posture and relieves tension.
Kneeling Lat Stretch
Deeply stretch your latissimus dorsi and improve shoulder mobility with the kneeling lat stretch.
Side Lat Stretch
Improve your upper body mobility and alleviate tension in your lats with this simple side lat stretch. Enhance flexibility and posture.
Standing Lower Trunk Lateral Flexor Stretch
Gently stretch your lower trunk lateral flexors with this standing exercise. Improve flexibility and reduce stiffness in your obliques and quadratus
Description
A stretching exercise that requires you to stand upright and bend your body sideways.
Save Standing Lateral Stretch to a routine
Log sets, reps, and weight as you train — free in the Ellim app.
How to Do Standing Lateral Stretch
- 1Setup
Stand tall with your feet hip-width apart, spine neutral, and arms relaxed at your sides.
- 2Setup
Raise your right arm overhead, extending it straight towards the ceiling, and place your left hand on your left hip for stability.
- 3
Inhale deeply, then as you exhale, gently bend your torso directly to your left side, reaching your right arm further over your head.
- 4
Keep your chest open and hips stable, feeling the stretch along the entire right side of your body, from your fingertips down through your latissimus dorsi and oblique.
- 5
Hold the stretch for the desired duration, breathing deeply, then slowly return to the starting position and repeat on the opposite side.
Tips
- Keep your chest open and avoid rotating your torso forward or backward to ensure the stretch targets the latissimus dorsi effectively.
- Initiate the stretch from your core, imagining your ribs moving away from your hips on the side being stretched.
- Breathe deeply throughout the stretch; inhale to prepare and exhale to deepen the stretch slightly and relax into it.
- For an intensified stretch, gently reach your overhead arm further to the side, maintaining a straight line from your hand to your hip.
Common Mistakes
- ×Rounding your back or twisting your torso reduces the target stretch; keep your chest open and ensure your body bends in a single, lateral plane.
- ×Bending forward instead of purely sideways shifts the stretch away from the lats; focus on a direct side bend, as if between two panes of glass.
- ×Shrugging the shoulder of the overhead arm can cause neck tension; actively relax your shoulder down and away from your ear.
In the Ellim app, Standing Lateral Stretch unlocks
Free — no subscription needed
Log sets, reps, and weight
Track every set as you train
See your strength curve
Performance graphs across all sessions
Add to a routine
Save into a custom workout in one tap
Rest timer with Live Activity
Dynamic Island countdown between sets
HealthKit sync
Workouts flow to Apple Health
3,500+ exercise library
Search, filter, and pick variations offline
Ready to train standing lateral stretch?
Get Ellim — FreeFrequently Asked Questions
What muscles does Standing Lateral Stretch work?
Is Standing Lateral Stretch good for beginners?
What equipment do I need for Standing Lateral Stretch?
What are the best tips for Standing Lateral Stretch?
What are common mistakes when doing Standing Lateral Stretch?
Related Exercises
Dynamic Back Stretch
Improve spinal mobility and relieve back tension with this dynamic stretch. Alternating between rounding and arching your back targets the latissimus
Seated Lower Back Stretch
Enhance spinal flexibility and relieve tension in your lower back with this effective seated stretch.
Side Lying Floor Stretch
Deeply stretch your latissimus dorsi and improve spinal mobility with the Side Lying Floor Stretch.
Back Stretch
Gently stretch your back muscles to relieve tension, enhance flexibility, and improve overall posture.
Dumbbell Complex Push-up Row Clean and Press
The ultimate full-body dumbbell complex combining a push-up, row, clean, and overhead press in one flow.
Dumbbell Renegade Row to Squat
Build total-body strength with this demanding complex combining renegade rows and explosive squats.
Track every rep of Standing Lateral Stretch.
Watch your weight climb session by session. See your strength curve. Add it to a routine you'll actually run.
Get Ellim — Free