Tech Neck! Yoga for Neck and Shoulders

Our necks and shoulders are common areas for tension, stiffness, and pain, and yoga offers a holistic approach to address these issues.

Many of us spend countless hours hunched over computers, phones, and other devices. This forward head posture, often called "text neck," puts immense strain on the cervical spine (neck) and surrounding muscles.

Yoga can help counteract this by strengthening the back muscles and promoting proper alignment. Movement and stretching, improve circulation and flexibility.

The neck and shoulders are notorious for holding stress and tension. When we're stressed, these muscles often involuntarily tense up, leading to knots, pain, and headaches. Yoga, through its combination of physical postures, breathwork, and mindfulness, helps release this accumulated tension.

Yoga also awakens body awareness, helping you identify and correct postural imbalances, by helping realign the head over the spine, reducing rounded shoulders, and promote a more upright and open posture. This directly alleviates strain on the neck and shoulders.
Increased flexibility allows for a greater range of motion, making everyday activities (like looking over your shoulder, reaching for something, or even sleeping comfortably) much easier and pain-free.
It's not just about stretching; yoga also strengthens the muscles that support the neck and shoulders, including the upper back, core, and deeper neck stabilizers. Stronger muscles provide better support for the cervical spine, reducing the risk of injury and chronic pain.

Bending the Head Backwards in Yoga (Cervical Extension):
While bending the head backwards is part of many yoga poses, especially backbends like Cobra, Camel, or Fish Pose, it's import we approach this with care;

Excessive or forceful bending backward can compress the vertebrae in the neck, potentially pinching nerves, which may lead to pain, numbness, tor tingling. 
You'll hear your yoga teacher saying 'Lead with the Heart, Not the Head'

during backbends, this encourages the bending movement to come from the upper and mid-back, opening the chest, rather than simply cranking the head back. Imagine lengthening the front of your throat.
Focus on Balanced regular Movement: Include neck movements in all directions – flexion (chin to chest), lateral flexion (ear to shoulder), rotation (looking side to side), and gentle extension – to maintain overall neck health.