standing side bend pose
In everyday life, the sides of the body sometimes get neglected.
Sitting, driving, reading, computer work, and even eating only require forward-facing movement. But many daily activities also require you to bend sideways, including cleaning, gardening, and chasing after young kids! And if you play sports — particularly ones that involve jumping or reaching upward, like basketball, volleyball, or tennis — you already know how important it is to stretch the sides of your body.
Benefits of Side Bending in Yoga
Side bends bring balance to your entire body.
They lengthen the abdominal muscles, hips, and thigh muscles, while improving flexibility in the spine.
Side bends also stretch the muscles between the ribs (the intercostal muscles).
These muscles can get short and tight in daily life, due to time spent sitting and slouching.
Tight intercostals can weaken your posture, resulting in neck and shoulder tension.
They also prevent a full range of motion in the ribs, which can restrict your breathing. Stretching out the intercostals will open up the ribcage and lungs, which will improve your breathing capacity.
It will also relieve respiratory conditions, such as asthma, allergies, and colds.
Additionally, side bends stretch the abdominal muscles and digestive organs.
This aids and regulates digestion, elimination, and metabolism. Women who are pregnant can also benefit from gentle side stretches, which will help to create more space in the torso for the organs and the growing baby.