Stretch

Cross-Body Shoulder Stretch

The simplest way to loosen the back of the shoulder after pressing workouts or a day of mouse-arm. Tight rear shoulders quietly steal reach-behind-you mobility - the kind you need buckling kids into car seats.

BeginnerNo equipment~2 min

Demonstration

Hold

30s

Per side

×1

Best for

Post-workoutPost-desk

How to do it

  1. 1

    Stand or sit tall and bring your right arm straight across your chest.

  2. 2

    Hook your left forearm or hand above the right elbow - not on the joint itself.

  3. 3

    Gently pull the arm closer to your chest until you feel a stretch in the back of the right shoulder.

  4. 4

    Keep the right shoulder down - don't let it shrug toward your ear.

  5. 5

    Hold, breathe, then switch arms.

Common mistakes

  • Shrugging the stretched shoulder up toward the ear
  • Pulling on the elbow joint instead of just above it
  • Rotating the torso instead of keeping the chest square