Our spines can move in four ways: forwards, backwards, side-to-side and through rotation. Most everyday movements and exercises we perform in our workouts nail the first three directions, but the latter is often neglected. That’s probably why it feels so good when you give yourself a big twisty stretch, whether in a yoga class or by wrapping around your desk chair after a poor posture day.  

But rotating through the spine requires so much more than just flopping into postures. In order to reap all the benefits and get that ‘ahh’ feeling, you need to execute your stretches with proper technique. So, here’s how to pull off the seated spinal twist – one of the simplest releases there is.