Open Book (Thoracic)
- Beginner
- Mobility
The open book lies you on your side with knees bent and arms stacked in front, then sweeps your top arm open across your body while your knees stay together. It opens the upper back and obliques through that rotating reach. Beginners use it as a warmup, a cooldown or a recovery flow, working through a set of reps on each side.
- Muscles
- Upper back, Obliques
- Equipment
- Bodyweight
- Logged as
- Reps
How to
- Lie on your side with knees bent, arms stacked in front.
- Sweep your top arm open across to the other side.
- Follow your hand with your gaze, knees staying together.
- Return slowly; finish the set, then switch sides.
Form cues
- Exhale as your chest opens toward the ceiling.
- Let the reach come from your upper back, not your shoulder.
- Keep your hips stacked and heavy on the floor.
Common mistakes
- Knees pop apart as the arm opens. Press your knees together throughout the reach.
- Hips roll back with the reaching arm. Keep your hips stacked, only the chest turns.
- The movement rushes instead of flowing slowly. Slow the reach down in both directions.
Wellboy is a wellness and fitness app, not a healthcare service, and it does not provide medical advice. Talk to a doctor or another healthcare professional before starting a new exercise or diet routine if you have a medical condition, an injury, are pregnant, or have symptoms.
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