How To Do Revolved Extended Side Angle With Open Arms

By: Chris Freytag, CPT


Chloe Freytag demonstrating revolved extended side angle with open arms in a blue tank top and yoga pants

Revolved Extended Side Angle With Open Arms is a standing pose that stretches the entire back, hips, chest and ankles and strengthens the legs. It is a powerful and effective standing stretch. If you are looking for a way to strengthen your lower body, create a healthier, more flexible spine and open the front of your body you should learn how to do Revolved Side Angle With Open Arms.

Revolved Side Angle With Open Arms is the next step after learning Extended Side Angle pose. The lower body position remains the same, but the upper body rotates with a gentle twist and the arms stretch open. If you are injury free, twisting is a very healthy activity for your back. Often back pain comes from stiffness and the neglect to move the back around in different positions. The gentle twisting motion brings blood flow to the back and moves the muscles around the vertebrae in order to create more space and flexibility for the back. Quick falls that catch you off guard give you no way to know how fast your back will bend or twist in a different direction than you are used to. If your back is stiff you will get injured. Those who concentrate on practicing spinal flexibility, like you find in Revolved Side Angle With Open Arms, have trained their back to move purposefully and carefully in different directions so that if it happens quickly it won’t be a new position and not as likely to create a problem.

Once you twist and open your arms you will begin to focus on your breathing. With each exahale, try to twist just a tiny bit more to continue practicing more flexibility training. If you are looking for other ways to improve your posture and your back health, try our blog 12 Yoga Poses To Help Alleviate Back Pain.

Here are the steps to performing Revolved Side Angle With Open Arms

1) From a standing position, step your left foot to the back of the mat and lower the inside of your foot down.

2) Reach both arms straight overhead and bend the right knee to 90 degrees.

3) Relax your shoulder as you continue reaching up and lengthen the back leg.

4) Keeping right arm stretched high, lower the left hand down and place on the ground next to your right foot.

5) Hold for 30 seconds and switch sides.

 

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