Assisted Obliques Stretch
Astride a bench with a stick across the shoulders, a partner behind turns the stick and your trunk with it; the hips stay put.
How to do it
Setup
Seated astride a flat bench, a stick across the upper back held near the shoulders, a partner standing behind holding its ends.
Steps
- Sit tall and let the partner turn the stick slowly to one side.
- Say stop at the first clear stretch along the side of the waist.
- Hold and breathe, then turn to the other side.
Common mistakes
Partner twisting in jerks: a slow, even turn only. Hips turning on the bench: grip it with the thighs so only the trunk rotates. Slumping as you turn: stay tall from the crown of the head.
Breathing
Exhale into the turn, then breathe evenly in the hold.
