admin Whether you sit at a desk all day, are on your feet, or you’re feeding an infant, we carry a lot of tension in our necks. The constant tension and stress can cause the muscles and ligaments to shorten and tighten. It’s more than just a pain in the neck; it can restrict movement in the neck.
What’s the best way to treat a stiff neck or chronically tight neck muscles when you awaken with them?
Yoga allows you to stretch and lengthen your muscles by moving the neck in six directions. It can treat neck pain and prevent chronic neck pain.
Here are our favorite neck-pain relief yoga poses. Speak to your doctor about a chronic neck issue before starting a yoga program. Also, work with a teacher who is experienced if you have a persistent neck problem. Stop if any pain is felt.
Cat/Cow
Warm up by moving through Cat and Cow while breathing. This pose targets multiple neck stressors by flexion and extension.
Our heads often fall forward when we stare at our phones, read a book, or watch TV.
The weight of your head continually strains the muscles and ligaments in the back and neck. Cat and Cow, which stretches the front and the back of the neck, can relieve many of our aches and discomforts.
Thread the Needle
This posture warms up the spine by twisting it.
Inhale while you raise your right arm. Exhale and thread your right arm through the space in between your left leg and hand, palm up. Rest your right ear against the mat. Repeat on the left side.
Melting Heart Posture
This pose is a beautiful backbend that stretches the upper and middle spine. It’s a difficult space to reach and can cause tension in the neck.
Keep your hips above your knees, and keep the arms at shoulder-width. To stretch my triceps, I clasp my hands behind my neck with my elbows pointing forward.
Rabbit Pose
Rabbit Pose creates space and opens the spine in the thoracic region. It helps to stimulate digestion and bring oxygenated blood into the brain. As you inhale, tighten your heels to raise your hips upwards.
You can rest your crown on the floor by bringing your forehead close to your knees. You can lighten your head’s weight by using your grip and arm strength. Fold a blanket up and place it under your knees if you have sensitivity.
Bridge Pose
Although it may sound strange, Bridge is an excellent pose for stretching the back of the neck and stimulating the thyroid gland by compressing the face.
Plant your feet approximately 6 inches away from the tailbone. Lift the hips off the floor by inhaling. Use your hands to support the sacrum or a block at medium or high height.
Hold for two to three minutes. Remove the support slowly. Lower your hips.
Fish Pose
Lie flat on your back, palms down. Slide your hands under your torso. Touch your thumbs. Spread your legs out, with your feet together. As you inhale, press your elbows down, raise your heart to the skies, and roll your crown of the head on the floor.
It would be best if you tried to keep the majority of your weight in your forearms and elbows rather than your crown. As you exit the pose, push through your elbows and lift your heart to the sky. Tuck your chin. Slide your head back onto the floor.
Rest in Savasana to let any tensions melt away.
These six poses stretch the neck in six different directions — front, back, side-to-side, and twisting right and left. The above poses will help release tension and stretch the neck to prevent restricted movement.
