Back · Bodyweight
Sphinx Pose Twist
How to do the sphinx pose twist, 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
Lie face down and prop yourself onto your forearms with elbows under your shoulders, lifting your chest into a gentle sphinx position. From here, slowly rotate your torso to one side, reaching one arm under and across your body, then return and twist to the other side. Keep your hips grounded as you rotate.
- 1Feel a gentle opening through your lower back and the side of your torso
- 2as you twist
- 3Keep your chest lifted and shoulders away from your ears
- 4Let your breath guide the rotation, deepening on the exhale
Common mistakes
- Don't force the twist past a comfortable range
- Avoid letting your hips lift off the floor
- Don't crunch your neck; keep it long and neutral
Muscles worked
The sphinx pose twist mainly works the lower back and obliques, with the upper abs and lower abs assisting.
- Lower BackPrimary
- ObliquesPrimary
- Upper AbsSupport
- Lower AbsSupport
- Mid ChestMinor
- LatsMinor
- Front DeltsMinor
- Hip FlexorsMinor
Kovo programs the sphinx pose twist 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 back exercises
- How to do the archer pull-up
- How to do the resistance band assisted pull-up
- How to do the machine assisted pull-up
- How to do the back extension bench back extension
- How to do the machine back extension
- How to do the back lever
Last reviewed June 2026.