> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://movement.mantavyam.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Elbow half cross-leg spinal twist

> Novice · Static · Unilateral. Flexibility

<video controls playsInline preload="none" poster="/images/exercises/e0vo.jpg" src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/calistree.appspot.com/o/exerciseVideos%2Fe0vo%2Fe0vo-264.mp4?alt=media&token=4a84fbfd-06a3-4e63-8f32-e87813ad7fe5" className="w-full aspect-square rounded-xl" />

| | |
| - | - |
| **Difficulty** | Novice |
| **Velocity** | Static |
| **Symmetry** | Unilateral |
| **Athlete** | Stacy |
| **Video length** | 28 s |

## Technique

1. From a seated position with the legs extended, place the right foot flat on the outside edge of the left knee or shin.
2. With the right hand flat on the floor behind you, bring the left elbow to the outside of the right knee.
3. Turn the head to the right to gaze over the shoulder.
4. Take 5 breaths.
5. Then unfold and repeat on the other side.

## Form tips

* Create a strong bind between the arm and the knee by pressing them into each other. This will bring you into a deeper twist for the spine, and may also create a stretch in the bent leg hip.
* Use the hand behind you to keep the spine tall as you twist.
* Avoid rounding or collapsing in the lower back as you twist.

<Info>
  **Logging:** Work each side for the time indicated.
</Info>

## Muscles

<div className="rounded-2xl border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-800 px-5 pt-4 pb-1 my-6">
  <div className="flex items-center gap-2 font-semibold" style={{color: "#1e88e5"}}><Icon icon="arrows-left-right" color="#1e88e5" size={18} /> Flexibility</div>

  <div className="max-w-md mx-auto my-4">
    <div className="relative w-full">
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/openmovement/6MqOY9401y9_GkuQ/images/muscle-map/body.svg?fit=max&auto=format&n=6MqOY9401y9_GkuQ&q=85&s=f51e7c4f06c31ba86e1b6bbd192d6d4d" alt="" noZoom className="block w-full m-0" width="1538" height="1340" data-path="images/muscle-map/body.svg" />

      <svg viewBox="0 0 406.99026 354.43411" className="absolute inset-0 w-full h-full" role="img" aria-label="Flexibility muscle map">
        <g fill="#1e88e5" stroke="#0d47a1" strokeWidth="0.15">
          <path d="M69.52,117.46 71.27,123.81 72.12,127.68 72.56,130.62 72.68,133.12 72.62,134.11 72.48,135.09 72.04,136.71 71.44,138.18 69.76,141.76 69.35,142.87 69.04,144.01 68.88,145.10 68.85,146.17 69.02,147.58 69.30,148.61 71.28,151.04 73.86,153.78 76.19,155.92 77.40,156.84 78.24,157.40 79.12,157.90 80.12,158.36 81.15,158.72 82.22,158.94 82.95,159.00 83.87,158.96 84.79,158.78 85.50,158.55 84.19,151.34 83.89,148.52 83.84,146.55 83.88,144.57 84.63,134.89 84.76,132.07 84.78,130.18 84.62,126.73 83.92,120.44 83.74,117.35 69.49,117.35 69.35,116.85ZM120.69,117.35 120.46,121.07 119.82,126.73 119.66,130.18 119.68,132.07 119.81,134.89 120.55,144.57 120.60,146.55 120.54,148.52 120.25,151.34 118.93,158.55 120.19,158.91 121.49,159.00 122.93,158.81 124.32,158.36 125.76,157.65 127.44,156.54 129.39,154.92 131.45,152.89 133.56,150.56 135.14,148.61 135.41,147.58 135.58,146.17 135.56,145.10 135.40,144.01 135.09,142.87 134.67,141.76 132.99,138.18 132.27,136.34 131.88,134.60 131.75,132.62 131.93,130.13 132.50,126.71 133.41,122.85 134.94,117.35ZM289.74,144.91 289.51,148.42 289.37,149.44 289.01,150.67 288.14,152.59 287.92,153.59 287.95,154.32 288.14,155.03 288.49,155.67 288.79,156.05 289.63,155.58 289.21,155.62 289.57,154.67 290.16,153.83 290.74,153.32 291.55,152.86 292.63,152.51 294.22,152.28 295.97,152.22 297.68,152.36 296.06,152.00 295.83,151.20 295.43,150.16 294.55,148.56 293.77,147.49 291.50,144.77 290.10,142.76ZM342.06,155.03 342.29,154.08 342.26,153.35 341.97,152.35 341.10,150.42 340.83,149.44 340.70,148.42 340.51,145.27 340.11,142.76 338.71,144.77 336.44,147.49 335.65,148.56 334.77,150.16 334.37,151.20 334.15,152.00 332.52,152.36 333.89,152.23 335.29,152.23 336.91,152.39 338.02,152.63 339.06,153.06 339.67,153.48 340.04,153.83 340.63,154.67 340.99,155.62 340.57,155.58 341.41,156.05 341.72,155.67Z" fillOpacity="0.9" />

          <path d="M308.20,148.00 314.20,152.00 314.20,112.00 308.20,120.00ZM322.00,148.00 322.00,120.00 316.00,112.00 316.00,152.00Z" fillOpacity="0.9" />

          <path d="M288.09,156.50 286.91,158.24 286.02,159.92 285.37,161.50 284.63,163.95 284.12,166.47 283.80,169.02 283.67,171.07 283.73,173.10 283.95,174.61 284.20,175.60 284.66,176.81 285.25,177.95 284.96,180.88 284.93,182.35 284.99,183.73 285.80,191.57 286.42,202.94 286.71,205.77 287.12,208.41 287.86,211.89 288.59,214.46 289.48,217.07 291.60,222.52 292.26,224.35 292.82,226.22 293.25,228.07 293.82,223.36 292.49,220.21 291.42,216.97 290.65,213.74 290.26,211.11 290.12,209.12 290.12,204.94 289.97,201.97 290.08,201.10 290.38,200.29 291.29,198.70 292.01,197.78 292.81,196.92 294.15,195.77 295.11,195.09 296.18,194.44 297.86,193.57 300.19,192.63 302.00,192.07 305.56,191.11 306.72,190.73 308.38,189.98 309.46,189.30 310.48,188.44 311.78,186.92 312.83,185.20 313.64,183.28 309.97,177.48 310.02,174.60 301.02,155.82 301.18,155.67 300.25,155.15 299.29,154.84 298.57,154.76 296.45,154.78 294.72,154.46 294.05,154.43 293.26,154.60 291.31,155.25 289.63,155.58 288.79,156.05 288.62,155.85ZM316.35,182.61 317.09,184.59 318.05,186.37 319.26,187.96 320.22,188.88 320.74,189.30 321.82,189.98 323.48,190.73 324.64,191.11 328.21,192.07 330.01,192.63 332.35,193.57 334.03,194.44 335.10,195.09 336.06,195.77 337.40,196.92 338.20,197.78 338.92,198.70 339.83,200.29 340.13,201.10 340.24,201.97 340.08,204.94 340.08,209.12 339.95,211.11 339.56,213.74 338.79,216.97 337.72,220.21 336.39,223.36 336.95,228.07 337.38,226.22 337.95,224.35 338.60,222.52 340.73,217.07 341.62,214.46 342.34,211.89 343.09,208.41 343.50,205.77 343.79,202.94 344.40,191.57 345.22,183.73 345.27,182.35 345.25,180.88 344.95,177.95 345.55,176.81 346.08,175.36 346.35,174.11 346.52,172.60 346.51,170.55 346.32,168.17 345.94,165.63 345.36,163.12 344.53,160.71 343.81,159.16 342.73,157.35 341.59,155.85 341.41,156.05 340.57,155.58 339.16,155.32 336.79,154.55 335.99,154.42 335.32,154.48 333.76,154.78 331.63,154.76 330.92,154.84 329.96,155.15 329.03,155.67 329.19,155.82Z" fillOpacity="0.9" />

          <path d="M71.31,63.03 67.65,63.83 69.09,64.16 69.77,64.24 73.55,64.10 75.97,64.16 77.42,64.32 79.56,64.78 81.64,65.44 84.36,66.53 88.86,68.58 93.27,70.74 94.35,71.09 95.55,71.27 95.29,66.36 97.89,73.66 98.18,74.03 98.56,74.31 99.01,74.46 99.54,74.47 99.97,74.34 99.64,73.48 100.41,70.44 100.90,67.37 101.21,63.88 101.37,58.66 100.56,58.54 100.38,58.44 100.44,58.54 99.91,58.39 97.87,57.62 98.14,59.79 98.22,61.54 98.16,63.46 97.91,66.24 97.20,59.81 96.79,57.08 95.51,56.31 94.38,55.49 93.31,54.58 92.06,53.30 92.01,55.65 91.65,56.07 90.18,57.52 89.10,58.38 87.36,59.48 86.07,60.12 84.05,60.88 81.26,61.60 78.27,62.12ZM136.78,63.83 133.12,63.03 126.17,62.12 123.17,61.60 120.38,60.88 118.37,60.12 117.08,59.48 115.33,58.38 114.25,57.52 112.78,56.07 112.43,55.65 112.37,53.30 111.12,54.58 110.06,55.49 108.92,56.31 107.64,57.08 107.24,59.81 106.53,66.24 106.28,63.46 106.22,61.54 106.29,59.79 106.56,57.62 104.19,58.54 103.06,58.69 103.23,63.88 103.53,67.37 104.03,70.44 104.79,73.48 104.46,74.34 104.90,74.47 105.42,74.46 105.87,74.31 106.25,74.03 106.54,73.66 109.14,66.36 108.88,71.27 110.08,71.09 111.16,70.74 115.58,68.58 120.07,66.53 122.79,65.44 124.88,64.78 127.02,64.32 128.46,64.16 130.89,64.10 134.67,64.24 135.35,64.16ZM309.23,44.87 309.23,44.21 309.35,43.56 309.18,43.48 308.58,43.33 308.11,43.34 306.80,43.70 306.28,43.76 305.90,43.67 305.14,43.22 304.75,43.12 304.41,43.17 304.06,43.36 303.15,44.33 302.78,44.59 302.17,44.76 301.54,44.70 301.05,49.87 300.67,55.05 300.42,59.87 300.26,64.96 296.78,65.82 294.78,66.45 292.69,67.31 287.85,69.47 283.31,71.19 282.21,71.69 280.82,72.46 279.89,73.11 278.83,74.00 308.65,74.00 307.31,72.42 306.91,72.11 306.24,71.73 304.76,71.22 301.40,70.45 302.67,70.42 304.32,70.24 305.95,69.93 307.56,69.50 308.81,69.08 310.01,68.55 311.15,67.89 311.90,67.31 311.91,66.75 311.20,66.87 310.53,66.88 311.20,65.72 309.54,65.86 309.88,65.40 310.37,64.96 311.97,64.01 312.31,48.67 311.65,48.74 311.24,48.71 310.95,48.58 310.66,48.31 309.54,46.12 309.33,45.51ZM303.34,63.57 302.87,63.87 302.87,63.87ZM329.94,64.96 329.74,58.90 329.48,54.19 329.09,49.01 328.67,44.70 328.04,44.76 327.43,44.59 326.99,44.26 326.18,43.40 325.89,43.21 325.61,43.13 325.16,43.18 324.40,43.63 324.01,43.75 323.49,43.72 322.42,43.40 321.94,43.32 321.48,43.36 320.88,43.55 320.99,44.70 320.83,45.67 320.47,46.56 319.73,48.02 319.47,48.40 319.20,48.61 318.83,48.73 317.61,48.66 316.65,48.78 316.18,48.66 316.16,48.76 316.10,49.72 316.26,51.48 316.32,54.68 316.44,55.48 316.67,56.20 316.39,56.18 316.13,56.31 315.97,56.54 315.94,56.85 316.46,58.70 316.68,59.08 317.06,59.45 316.66,59.50 316.49,59.64 316.38,59.83 316.33,60.94 316.37,61.37 316.57,61.74 316.91,61.99 316.78,62.28 316.76,62.59 316.87,62.91 317.08,63.19 317.77,63.73 319.84,64.96 320.32,65.40 320.66,65.86 319.01,65.72 319.67,66.88 319.09,66.88 318.46,66.79 317.40,66.40 318.32,67.32 319.33,68.07 320.49,68.70 321.71,69.19 323.45,69.73 325.48,70.18 327.12,70.39 328.81,70.45 325.45,71.22 323.97,71.73 323.30,72.11 322.89,72.42 321.55,74.00 351.38,74.00 350.32,73.11 349.38,72.46 348.00,71.69 346.90,71.19 342.35,69.47 337.52,67.31 335.42,66.45 333.43,65.82ZM326.87,63.57 327.33,63.87 327.33,63.87Z" fillOpacity="0.4" />

          <path d="M134.88,161.73 136.11,157.99 136.32,156.89 136.34,156.06 136.15,154.93 135.19,152.15 134.76,150.44 134.63,150.96 134.37,151.51 134.07,151.93 133.60,152.41ZM69.47,151.33 68.29,154.93 68.12,155.77 68.09,156.34 68.15,157.17 68.40,158.26 69.55,161.73 70.78,152.78 69.99,152.05ZM125.45,160.72 122.11,168.19 114.22,185.35 109.47,195.47 108.38,197.94 107.38,200.45 106.52,203.00 106.15,204.29 105.70,206.19 105.38,207.95 105.06,210.31 104.82,212.69 104.49,218.17 106.15,213.98 107.29,211.53 108.53,209.13 109.71,207.07 111.27,204.55 117.01,195.94 119.66,191.64 121.65,187.95 122.58,186.07 124.29,182.25 125.08,180.30 126.50,176.36 127.73,172.35 128.60,169.03 129.18,166.43 129.90,162.50 130.45,158.54 130.74,155.55 129.95,157.10 129.33,157.96 128.82,158.50 127.95,159.22 127.00,159.85ZM74.15,159.86 74.75,163.81 75.25,166.43 75.84,169.03 76.70,172.35 77.93,176.36 78.62,178.34 80.14,182.25 80.97,184.17 82.78,187.95 83.75,189.81 85.85,193.44 88.24,197.18 93.17,204.55 95.47,208.34 96.75,210.72 97.92,213.16 98.99,215.64 99.94,218.17 99.75,214.51 99.44,210.90 99.15,208.54 98.73,206.19 98.28,204.29 97.50,201.72 96.57,199.19 95.52,196.70 83.32,170.38 79.13,161.08 76.94,159.85 75.70,158.99 74.61,157.96 74.16,157.36 73.80,156.75Z" fillOpacity="0.4" />
        </g>
      </svg>
    </div>
  </div>

  <Columns cols={2}>
    <Card title="Primary"><ul className="not-prose list-none p-0 mt-2 mb-0 space-y-1.5"><li className="flex items-center gap-2"><span className="inline-block w-2 h-2 rounded-full shrink-0" style={{background: "#3393e7"}} />Obliques</li><li className="flex items-center gap-2"><span className="inline-block w-2 h-2 rounded-full shrink-0" style={{background: "#3393e7"}} />Spine</li><li className="flex items-center gap-2"><span className="inline-block w-2 h-2 rounded-full shrink-0" style={{background: "#3393e7"}} />Glutes</li></ul></Card>
    <Card title="Secondary"><ul className="not-prose list-none p-0 mt-2 mb-0 space-y-1.5"><li className="flex items-center gap-2"><span className="inline-block w-2 h-2 rounded-full shrink-0" style={{background: "#9ec9ef"}} />Neck</li><li className="flex items-center gap-2"><span className="inline-block w-2 h-2 rounded-full shrink-0" style={{background: "#9ec9ef"}} />Pelvis</li></ul></Card>
  </Columns>
</div>

## Equipment

<div className="not-prose" style={{display: "grid", gridTemplateColumns: "repeat(auto-fill, minmax(10rem, 1fr))", gap: "0.75rem"}}><a href="/collections/equipment/ground-hands-or-body" className="flex flex-col rounded-xl border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-800 overflow-hidden no-underline text-gray-900 dark:text-gray-100 hover:border-gray-400 dark:hover:border-gray-600"><div className="bg-white flex items-center justify-center p-3" style={{height: "8.5rem"}}><img src="https://mintcdn.com/openmovement/vLNdve7XPAGUwV8u/images/equipment/q01h.webp?fit=max&auto=format&n=vLNdve7XPAGUwV8u&q=85&s=29181eaf27fe629ddae54c0248aef224" alt="Ground (hands or body)" noZoom className="m-0 w-full h-full object-contain" width="286" height="173" data-path="images/equipment/q01h.webp" /></div><span className="px-3 py-2.5 text-sm font-medium leading-snug border-t border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-800">Ground (hands or body)</span></a></div>

## Appears in

<div className="not-prose rounded-2xl border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-800 px-5 py-4 flex flex-col gap-4"><div style={{display: "flex", flexWrap: "wrap", gap: "0.5rem 1rem", alignItems: "baseline"}}><div className="flex items-center gap-2 font-medium text-gray-900 dark:text-gray-100" style={{flex: "0 0 10rem"}}><Icon icon="arrows-left-right" size={16} /> Flexibility</div><div style={{flex: "1 1 18rem", display: "flex", flexWrap: "wrap", gap: "0.5rem"}}><a href="/collections/flexibility/flexible-spine" className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 rounded-full border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 px-3 py-1 text-sm text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-300 no-underline hover:border-gray-400 dark:hover:border-gray-500">Flexible spine</a><a href="/collections/flexibility/flexible-hips" className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 rounded-full border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 px-3 py-1 text-sm text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-300 no-underline hover:border-gray-400 dark:hover:border-gray-500">Flexible hips</a></div></div><div style={{display: "flex", flexWrap: "wrap", gap: "0.5rem 1rem", alignItems: "baseline"}}><div className="flex items-center gap-2 font-medium text-gray-900 dark:text-gray-100" style={{flex: "0 0 10rem"}}><Icon icon="shapes" size={16} /> Other disciplines</div><div style={{flex: "1 1 18rem", display: "flex", flexWrap: "wrap", gap: "0.5rem"}}><a href="/collections/other-disciplines/yoga" className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 rounded-full border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 px-3 py-1 text-sm text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-300 no-underline hover:border-gray-400 dark:hover:border-gray-500">Yoga</a></div></div><div style={{display: "flex", flexWrap: "wrap", gap: "0.5rem 1rem", alignItems: "baseline"}}><div className="flex items-center gap-2 font-medium text-gray-900 dark:text-gray-100" style={{flex: "0 0 10rem"}}><Icon icon="person" size={16} /> Joint movements</div><div style={{flex: "1 1 18rem", display: "flex", flexDirection: "column", gap: "0.5rem"}}><div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2"><span className="text-sm text-gray-500 dark:text-gray-400 w-20">Trunk</span><a href="/collections/joint-movements/trunk-rotation" className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 rounded-full border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 px-3 py-1 text-sm text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-300 no-underline hover:border-gray-400 dark:hover:border-gray-500"><span className="inline-block w-2 h-2 rounded-full" style={{background: "#1e88e5"}} />rotation</a></div><div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2"><span className="text-sm text-gray-500 dark:text-gray-400 w-20">Hip</span><a href="/collections/joint-movements/hip-adduction" className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 rounded-full border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 px-3 py-1 text-sm text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-300 no-underline hover:border-gray-400 dark:hover:border-gray-500"><span className="inline-block w-2 h-2 rounded-full" style={{background: "#1e88e5"}} />adduction</a></div><div className="flex gap-4 text-xs text-gray-500 dark:text-gray-400"><span className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5"><span className="inline-block w-2 h-2 rounded-full" style={{background: "#c8102e"}} /> trains</span><span className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5"><span className="inline-block w-2 h-2 rounded-full" style={{background: "#1e88e5"}} /> stretches</span></div></div></div></div>

## Progressions

<Columns cols={3}>
  <Card title="Supported cross-leg spinal twist" img="https://mintcdn.com/openmovement/u4isihpalktq37dc/images/exercises/e0vp.jpg?fit=max&auto=format&n=u4isihpalktq37dc&q=85&s=c19e42fb9c3bb313b35f7af0c0f9f7ed" href="/exercises/supported-cross-leg-spinal-twist-e0vp" width="320" height="320" data-path="images/exercises/e0vp.jpg">Novice</Card>
</Columns>

## Regressions

<Columns cols={3}>
  <Card title="Half cross-leg spinal twist" img="https://mintcdn.com/openmovement/u4isihpalktq37dc/images/exercises/e0vn.jpg?fit=max&auto=format&n=u4isihpalktq37dc&q=85&s=cce7b1fb43709d739cba0081b167dbdb" href="/exercises/half-cross-leg-spinal-twist-e0vn" width="320" height="320" data-path="images/exercises/e0vn.jpg">Beginner</Card>
</Columns>

<Accordion title="View Similar Exercises" icon="shuffle">
  <Columns cols={3}>
    <Card title="Supported sitting half lotus revolved spinal twist" img="https://mintcdn.com/openmovement/u4isihpalktq37dc/images/exercises/e0vu.jpg?fit=max&auto=format&n=u4isihpalktq37dc&q=85&s=cf6e0fe69ca1b73fee953d44ab66283b" href="/exercises/supported-sitting-half-lotus-revolved-spinal-twist-e0vu" width="320" height="320" data-path="images/exercises/e0vu.jpg">Novice</Card>
    <Card title="Sitting revolved spinal twist" img="https://mintcdn.com/openmovement/u4isihpalktq37dc/images/exercises/e0vr.jpg?fit=max&auto=format&n=u4isihpalktq37dc&q=85&s=b744d316e18a20a1cd40cf9c2cdcd7c8" href="/exercises/sitting-revolved-spinal-twist-e0vr" width="320" height="320" data-path="images/exercises/e0vr.jpg">Novice</Card>
    <Card title="Bound cross-leg spinal twist" img="https://mintcdn.com/openmovement/u4isihpalktq37dc/images/exercises/e0ws.jpg?fit=max&auto=format&n=u4isihpalktq37dc&q=85&s=2990695713b3d270614f35880dad59d4" href="/exercises/bound-cross-leg-spinal-twist-e0ws" width="320" height="320" data-path="images/exercises/e0ws.jpg">Intermediate</Card>
    <Card title="Cross-leg spinal twist" img="https://mintcdn.com/openmovement/u4isihpalktq37dc/images/exercises/e0vq.jpg?fit=max&auto=format&n=u4isihpalktq37dc&q=85&s=069154d853e0dc1427f94d206a479f6c" href="/exercises/cross-leg-spinal-twist-e0vq" width="320" height="320" data-path="images/exercises/e0vq.jpg">Intermediate</Card>
    <Card title="Kneeling revolved side angle prayer hands" img="https://mintcdn.com/openmovement/ez-Z6MjOTdC-Snkx/images/exercises/e0v0.jpg?fit=max&auto=format&n=ez-Z6MjOTdC-Snkx&q=85&s=7faf8497c27879241ed4cf6710980bd4" href="/exercises/kneeling-revolved-side-angle-prayer-hands-e0v0" width="320" height="320" data-path="images/exercises/e0v0.jpg">Novice</Card>
  </Columns>
</Accordion>

<Note>
  Want to log this exercise? Open it in [Calistree](https://calistree.app/datasheet/elbow-half-cross-leg-spinal-twist-e0vo). Text and images are used under [CC BY-NC-ND 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/); the video plays from the original source.
</Note>


This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.