Core · Bodyweight
Standing Behind Sky Reach
How to do the standing behind sky reach, 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
- Extension
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Stand tall with your feet hip-width apart and reach both arms overhead and slightly behind you, lifting your chest toward the ceiling. Hold the long stretch through your front body, then return to standing.
- 1A long stretch through the front of your torso and shoulders
- 2Your ribcage lifting as you reach up and back
- 3Your core gently bracing to keep your lower back from overarching
Common mistakes
- Cranking your lower back to reach further behind you
- Shrugging your shoulders up toward your ears
- Holding your breath instead of breathing into the stretch
Muscles worked
The standing behind sky reach mainly works the upper abs, with the lower back and lower abs assisting.
- Upper AbsPrimary
- Lower BackSupport
- Lower AbsSupport
- Upper ChestMinor
- Mid ChestMinor
- LatsMinor
- Upper TrapsMinor
- Lower TrapsMinor
- ObliquesMinor
- Front DeltsMinor
- Hip FlexorsMinor
Kovo programs the standing behind sky reach 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.