Side upper body bends without additional weight

The lateral inclination of the upper body without additional weight is performed while standing. Stand upright, with your legs hip-width apart. Your gaze is directed forward, and your arms hang relaxed at the sides of your body. In another variation, you can stretch one arm over your head.

Movement execution

Start by slowly tilting the upper body to the side, bending at the hips. Exhale during this movement. Your arm moves towards your knee. Ensure that the inclination of the upper body is solely to the side, not forward. Now return to the starting position and inhale. During the gradual downward tilt, your arm moves directly downward, while the upper body remains in a lateral direction without any forward movements. Keep your head upright without bending it. Exhale during this downward movement. When your hand is approximately at knee height, halt the movement. Then return to the starting position and fully straighten your body again.

Stressed muscles and common mistakes

Additional details on the involved muscles and frequently encountered errors during the execution of the exercise "Lateral Tilting of the Upper Body without Additional Weight" can be found on the page dedicated to lateral tilting of the upper body.

Alternative variants to lateral upper body bends without additional weight

To make your training more diverse, you can also resort to similar exercises or alternative variations of lateral tilting of the upper body without additional weight.