Core · Bodyweight
Cat Cow Lookback
How to do the cat cow lookback, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Bodyweight
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Logged as
- time
- Movement
- Rotation
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Start on hands and knees with a neutral spine. Flow into the cat-cow motion by rounding and arching your back, then add a lookback by rotating your head and shoulders to gaze toward your hip on each side. Move slowly with your breath for the set duration.
- 1Each segment of the spine mobilizing as you round and arch
- 2A gentle rotation through the upper back on the lookback
- 3Slow, steady breathing driving the movement
Common mistakes
- Forcing the range past what feels comfortable
- Locking the elbows out hard
- Rushing the flow instead of moving with the breath
Muscles worked
The cat cow lookback mainly works the upper abs, with the lower back, lower abs, and obliques assisting.
- Upper AbsPrimary
- Lower BackSupport
- Lower AbsSupport
- ObliquesSupport
- LatsMinor
- Upper TrapsMinor
- Mid TrapsMinor
- Side DeltsMinor
Kovo programs the cat cow lookback for you and tracks it every session.
We build your whole program, drop the right lifts into each workout, and adjust your weights as you get stronger. Free on iOS and Android.
More abs & core exercises
- How to do the ab wheel rollout
- How to do the ankle tap plank
- How to do the ankle taps
- How to do the resistance band dead bugs
- How to do the resistance band pallof press
- How to do the rollout
Last reviewed June 2026.