Yoga side bends are a great way to stretch the muscles on your sides and work out any tension you may be holding in those areas. Side bends open the rib cage and expand the chest. They prepare the body for pranayama and deep breathing by widening the diaphragm and allowing the collarbones and sternums to lift and spread.
Side bends are performed by bending at the waist to make a c-curve shape in the spine and upper body. There are only a few of side bending poses in yoga, but they still are an important post to incorporate into your yoga practice.
Side bends are an excellent exercise to build strength, increase mobility, and improve flexibility. They build stamina and endurance, improve concentration and memory, and enhance immunity and energy levels. A regular practice of these yoga postures will also provide the following benefits:
Explore our index of side bending yoga poses below for step-by-step instructions, pose benefits, modifications, and Sanskrit pronunciation for these yoga side bend names.