There is a reason why the adage, "you're a pain in the neck," exists
It's because having a stiff neck is outright miserable! Checking your blind spot when driving, looking down to put your shoes on, looking up to avoid sloppy dog kisses—these simple movements can feel like gymnastic feats when you have a stiff neck. In addition to being inconvenient, muscle tension in this area makes us prone to headaches and irritability, inciting poor posture, which impedes productivity, necessitating more time at the desk, which causes eye strain, hearing loss, and so forth. (That reference to hearing loss wasn't a typo. You can read about my personal experience in this post.)
Tight Muscles Drain Energy
The energy-sucking cycle described above is familiar to many of us who sit at a desk, type on a smartphone, drive in a car, read books, knit, watch TV — in other words, anyone involved in the process of living! The reality, however, is that most of us aren't able to put life on hold to indulge in a week of uninterrupted rest and relaxation anytime the tension runs high. Luckily, we don't have to.
Quick Yoga Flow to Dissolve Tension
This short ten-minute yoga flow is the next best alternative when you have to keep pushing through. Dissolve tension in the neck and shoulders, strengthen mid and upper back muscles, lengthen through the low back, and show your spine the gratitude it deserves. Prevent suboptimal posture patterns from taking up residence in your body and ease the pain if they've already moved in — with no time off from living required.
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