Core · Bodyweight
Seated Twist Stretch
How to do the seated twist stretch, 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
Sit tall with both legs extended or one leg crossed over the other. Place a hand on the floor behind you for support and rotate your torso toward that side, using your opposite hand on the knee to gently deepen the twist. Hold and feel the stretch through your spine and obliques, then switch sides.
- 1A gentle rotational stretch through your mid-back and obliques
- 2Your spine lengthening upward as you twist rather than slumping
- 3An even, controlled pull as you breathe into the rotation
Common mistakes
- Do not crank or force the twist past a comfortable end range
- Avoid rounding your lower back or collapsing your chest
- Do not hold your breath; exhale as you rotate deeper
Muscles worked
The seated twist stretch mainly works the obliques, with the lower back and lower abs assisting.
- ObliquesPrimary
- Lower BackSupport
- Lower AbsSupport
- LatsMinor
- Mid TrapsMinor
- Upper AbsMinor
- GlutesMinor
- HamstringsMinor
Kovo programs the seated twist stretch 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.