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Scorpion Stretch

Beginner
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Prone bodyweight stretch targeting hips, lower back, and obliques through spinal rotation and hip mobility to improve flexibility, balance, and relieve tension; used in warm-ups or cool-downs.

About Exercise

Equipment

Body Weight

Difficulty

2/5 • Beginner

Primary Muscle Groups

Hip Flexors, Lower Back

Secondary Muscles

Quads

Popularity Score

5

Goals

Mobility
Stability
Rehab

Training Style

Yoga
Mobility Flow

Setup Requirements

Requires Rack

No

Requires Bench

No

Requires Spotter

No

Space Needed

Small

Noise Level

Low

Muscle Breakdown

Hip Flexors

9/10

Iliopsoas

Lower Back

8/10

Erector Spinae

Glutes

7/10

Glute Max

Obliques

6/10

External Obliques, Internal Obliques

Quads

4/10

Rectus Femoris

Programming

Typical Rep Range

3-10 reps

Rest Between Sets

10-30 seconds • Rest briefly between sides

How to Perform

Lie face down on a mat with legs extended straight behind you and arms extended out to the sides in a T shape, palms down.

  1. Lift one leg off the ground and bend the knee to 90 degrees.
  2. Rotate your hips and lower back to bring the foot across your body toward the opposite side.
  3. Keep your shoulders and chest grounded to the floor.
  4. Hold the position for 10-15 seconds if static, or briefly if dynamic.
  5. Return the leg to the starting position.
  6. Repeat on the opposite side.

Coaching Tips

Form Cues

  • Keep shoulders down
  • Engage core lightly
  • Rotate from hips
  • Breathe into the stretch
  • Ground opposite hip

Breathing

Inhale to prepare, exhale as you rotate into the stretch, and maintain steady breaths while holding.

Tempo

2-0-2

Range of Motion

Lift leg to knee bent 90 degrees, rotate until foot reaches near opposite hand or floor without forcing beyond comfort.

Safety

Safety Notes

  • Avoid if acute low back or hip pain
  • Stop if sharp pain occurs
  • Warm up first
  • Progress gradually

Spotting

No spotting needed; perform in comfortable space with supervision for beginners.

Common Mistakes

  • Overarching lower back
  • Forcing the twist too far
  • Lifting shoulders off ground
  • Holding breath

When to Avoid

  • Acute low back pain
  • Hip injuries
  • Shoulder pain

Flexibility Needed

  • Basic hip flexibility
  • Spinal rotation range

Build Up First

  • Familiarity with prone position
  • Core engagement basics

Also known as

Prone Scorpion, Scorpion Twist

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