Your ribs should expand with each breath. Desk posture and shallow breathing stiffen the rib cage, reducing breath capacity. These exercises restore the rib mobility that enables full, nourishing breaths. Get personalized mobility routines: Start your 14-day free trial Why This Matters Breathing is your most fundamental movement: 20,000+ breaths daily. Restricted rib mobility limits oxygen intake, affects posture, and increases neck and shoulder tension. Free-moving ribs enable healthy breathing. The Exercises Practice these exercises in order. Move slowly and respect your current range of motion. Exercise 1 JME 150 Sitting in your chair, rotate your upper body both left and right. Don't do this too fast - find what works for you. Exercise 2 JME 151 Either sitting or standing, extend one arm up over your head. Bend toward the other side for a gentle stretch in your side body. Return to the middle and repeat. Exercise 3 JME 154 Either sitting or standing at your desk, extend your upper body toward the direction behind you - either putting your arms above your head or keeping them at your side. Exercise 4 JME 157 Standing or sitting at your desk, raise one arm above your head. Rotate your upper body toward the other side for a gentle stretch and return to the middle. Exercise 5 JME 158 Sitting in your chair, extend one arm above your head and rotate your upper body toward the other side. Then, return that arm back to the middle and do the same thing for the other side. You should "flow" from side to side. Tips for Success Breathe into your back and sides, not just front Thoracic rotation expands rib mobility Practice diaphragmatic breathing alongside mobility Stress causes rib cage tension; address both Side-lying positions can help access stuck ribs How Often to Practice Practice daily. Combine with breathing practice for best results. Build Your Mobility Practice Consistency matters more than duration. simplmobility provides joint-specific routines in 2-3 minute sessions that fit into any schedule. Start Your Free Trial