Legs · Bodyweight
Cobra Pose
How to do the cobra pose, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Bodyweight
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Logged as
- Timed hold
- Movement
- Extension
- Mechanic
- Mobility
See it in motion
How to do it
Move into the position described by the pose, aligning your body as instructed. Hold the pose while maintaining steady breathing.
- 1Feel a gentle backbend stretching your chest, abdominals, and hip flexors
- 2Keep your elbows close to your sides and shoulders down
- 3Engage your glutes lightly to support your lower back
Common mistakes
- Avoid locking your elbows or forcefully pressing up
- Don't compress your lower back; lengthen your spine
- Avoid shrugging your shoulders; keep them away from your ears
Muscles worked
The cobra pose works the hip flexors.
- Hip FlexorsSupport
- TricepsMinor
- Upper ChestMinor
- Lower BackMinor
- Upper AbsMinor
- Front DeltsMinor
Kovo programs the cobra pose for you and tracks it every session.
The AI builds your whole program, drops the right lifts into each workout, and adjusts your weights as you get stronger. Free on iOS and Android.
More hips & adductors exercises
- How to do the cable hip adduction
- How to do the copenhagen plank
- How to do the hanging knee raise
- How to do the hanging leg raise
- How to do the machine hip adduction
- How to do the standing hip flexor stretch
Last reviewed April 2026.