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Exercise Ball Lying Side Lat Stretch
A side-lying stretch over a stability ball that lengthens the lat and obliques on one side at a time.
BackStability BallLateral flexion stretch
GoLightWeight mediaexercise-ball-lying-side-lat-stretch
Demonstration coming soon
Primary
Latissimus dorsi
Secondary
ObliquesTeres majorIntercostals
Equipment
Stability Ball
Pattern
Lateral flexion stretch
Setup
- 01Kneel beside the ball and lean your hip and ribs onto it sideways.
- 02Extend the bottom leg or keep the bottom knee down for balance.
- 03Stagger the top foot on the floor in front for support.
- 04Reach the top arm overhead along the curve of the ball.
Execution
- 01Drape the side of your torso over the ball and reach the top arm long past your head.
- 02Let the ribs open over the ball until you feel a stretch down the side and lat.
- 03Breathe into the stretched side for the full hold.
- 04Come up slowly and repeat on the other side.
Checkpoints
- -The stretch runs from the armpit down the side of the torso.
- -Hips stay stacked, not rolling forward or back.
- -The reaching arm stays relaxed, not rigidly locked.
- -Contact with the ball is broad, from hip to ribs.
Common mistakes
- -Rolling the chest toward the ceiling and turning it into a chest stretch.
- -Supporting all the weight on the legs instead of relaxing onto the ball.
- -Reaching so hard the shoulder shrugs into the ear.
- -Skipping the second side.
Programming notes
- -Hold 30 to 45 seconds per side for 2 rounds.
- -Useful after heavy pulldown or row sessions when the lats feel short.
- -Match the stretch intensity left to right rather than chasing the tighter side.
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