Core · Bodyweight
Diagonal Reach on Chair
How to do the diagonal reach on chair, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Bodyweight
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Logged as
- Reps
- Movement
- Rotation
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Sit tall on a chair with your feet flat and core braced. Reach one arm up and across your body on a diagonal while rotating your torso toward that side, then return and repeat to the other side.
- 1Your obliques working as you rotate and reach across
- 2A tall spine that rotates rather than slumps
- 3Your core staying braced through each reach
Common mistakes
- Slouching or rounding your back as you reach
- Letting your hips twist off the seat
- Rushing the rotation instead of controlling it
Muscles worked
The diagonal reach on chair mainly works the obliques, with the upper abs and lower abs assisting.
- ObliquesPrimary
- Upper AbsSupport
- Lower AbsSupport
- LatsMinor
- Lower BackMinor
- Upper TrapsMinor
- Mid TrapsMinor
- Front DeltsMinor
- Side DeltsMinor
- Hip FlexorsMinor
Kovo programs the diagonal reach on chair 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.