FASCIA DEEP DIVE #2: The Lateral Line
- The Stretch Space
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Following on from our Spiral line Deep Dive post, let's now take a closer look at the lateral line.
When we talk about the body from a holistic perspective, we often hear the phrase “everything is connected.” It sounds profound — but it doesn’t always help us understand what’s actually happening inside our bodies.
You're not alone. Things become much clearer when we explore the body through the lens of fascial lines — the continuous connective tissue pathways described by Tom Myers in his influential book Anatomy Trains.
So today, let’s take a closer look at one of these chains: the Anatomy Trains Lateral Line explained.
What Is the Lateral Line?
The Lateral Line is a continuous band of fascia running along the sides of your body — from the outside edge of your foot, up your leg, along your hip and torso, and all the way to the ribs, shoulder girdle, and neck.
It plays a major role in:
Side-to-side balance
Walking and gait mechanics
Hip stability
Breathing and rib mobility
Overall posture
If the Spiral Line is about rotation, the Lateral Line is about support, balance, and lift.
How the Lateral Line Affects Daily Life
Because this fascial chain spans such a large portion of your body, tension or weakness in one area can show up somewhere completely different. This was concisely expressed by one of the pioneers of our modern fascial understanding, Ida Rolf with this line - "Where you think it is it ain't"
For example:
Tight outer hips can pull on the low ribs, affecting breathing.
Restricted rib mobility can reduce shoulder range of motion.
A collapsed arch in one foot can create tension along the entire side body.
This is the brilliance of Myers’ fascial mapping — it helps explain why your hip tension might be connected to your neck, or why improving your rib mobility might ease discomfort in your outer thigh.
Everything is connected — and the Lateral Line is one of the clearest demonstrations of that truth.
How to Stretch or Activate the Lateral Line
When you stretch the Lateral Line, you're not just targeting a single muscle. You're influencing a full chain of tissues — improving harmony, stability, and fluidity through the entire body.
A few examples of movements that influence the Lateral Line:
Standing side bend
Half-moon variation (side body lengthening)
Side-lying leg lifts or arcs
Banana pose (gentle C-curve stretch)
Side plank variations
Even subtle movements — like reaching one arm overhead while grounding through the opposite foot — can wake up this entire fascial chain.
When the Lateral Line is balanced, people often describe feeling:
Lighter
More upright
More open through the ribs and breath
Less compressed in the low back and hips
How Fascial Awareness Helps You Move Better
Understanding the Lateral Line invites you into a more holistic approach to your body. Instead of stretching one muscle at a time, you're learning to work with integrated systems — which is exactly how the body actually functions.
By paying attention to fascial lines like the Lateral Line, you build better movement patterns, reduce compensations, and create lasting change rather than temporary relief.
Explore This Work With Us
At The Stretch Space, we work with fascial lines every day — through assisted stretching, breathwork, and mindful movement designed to create real, whole-body change.
We also teach this approach in our Assisted Stretch Therapy Trainings and Breathwork Trainings, where practitioners learn to work with fascia, breath, and the nervous system in an integrated, practical way. These trainings are designed to empower everyday people to care for their own bodies more effectively, support family and friends, or take the next step toward offering this work professionally.
If you’re curious to feel the Lateral Line in your own body or explore this approach more deeply:
👉 Book a session or learn about upcoming trainings at www.thestretchspace.com
💜 The Stretch Space Team
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