Do yoga neck exercises really relieve stress?

Yes

Have you ever tried Yoga Neck Exercises for a stiff neck or painful shoulders? Have you tried it for improving your eyesight? The fact is that yoga neck exercises have been used for centuries to relieve pain and stress. I use them and they do help me. It even helps me to see a little better as it relieves the stress and tension on my optic nerves and allows for better blood flow to the brain. Better blood flow, means more oxygenation for clearer thinking and focus. Much of the time I can actually feel the muscles relax as I am doing the exercises. While they may not relieve all stress, they can relieve a great deal of it and aid in keeping the level of stress a bit lower.

There are many different types of stress and human beings weren't meant to sit all of the time, staring at a computer screen or a TV. Today we are so tired after a workday that all we may want to do in order to wind down our day is to sit in front of the TV and watch a movie. Believe it or not, that only adds more stress to various areas of our body like our eyes, neck and shoulders. Humans were built to move and our muscles and tendons all work a bit better when our movements are slow and done with the proper breathing techniques. Sitting in front of a TV not only weakens our eye muscles, but it can add to a stiff neck and a host of other conditions because we are often creating stress by sitting in one spot and focusing intently on the same thing for hours at a time. Sometimes the harder you focus, the more your neck muscles tighten.

Have you ever sat and watched the nightly news only to find that you were at some point rubbing your aching neck? Holding it in one position for a long period of time, plus the stress that just the news can cause can get a neck aching in a few short minutes.

We have family stress, job stress, and financial stress. It's all too much for us to take and many of us do hold our stress in our neck and shoulders. After a while, we get so that we are achy and uncomfortable and don't even realize why. We run, jog, workout at the gym and still we have pain in our neck and shoulders. Why? Because many normal exercise movements can actually increase the tension and stress in our neck and shoulders, exercises like sit ups, and weight lifting are strenuous, especially to our neck and shoulders.

Injuries like whiplash can actually create serious neck problems, in the long term if left untreated. Many people don't even realize that they've had a whiplash! Sometimes the treatments don't really do much in the way of relieving pain and stress. I know, I have had whiplash 3 times and I spent a full year with stiff necks before beginning to get any relief. Yoga neck exercises have been a Godsend with respect to relieving my stiff necks and general pain.

Yoga stretches our muscles and tendons and adds more flexibility in our tissues and fluidity to our movements. As you do your yoga neck exercises, breathe right and move slowly, you are actually oxygenating your muscles and tendons through the oxygen you are getting in your blood supply. Oxygen is a big factor in preventing our muscles and tendons from getting stiff. Slow regulated movements can ease our muscles and tendons into positions that the stress and pain don't allow without the added pain and damage to our tissues.

Yoga exercises can be done at home or at work; it takes only a few minutes and doesn't make you sore. It helps you to think clearly, as well. I have found myself doing these at work many times to relieve tension and stress and they have never failed to help.

Fast exercise movements without warm-up stretches can injure; even tear muscles and tendons causing serious problems. That is the beauty of yoga neck exercises; you are not further stressing your neck and shoulders. You are basically doing stretches along with the breathing to oxygenate and get your blood and muscle fluids flowing better. They are great for warm-ups before heavier exercise like tennis, basketball, hand ball, volleyball, etc.

When we practice yoga neck exercises daily, we will begin to see less tension being held in our neck and shoulders. Even major stressors will force less stress because our bodies will be better able to handle the stress.

Yoga is exercise that can be practiced by most people. If you hate physical exercise or are limited in your movement because of a physical condition, yoga can especially help. Even if you can't do most yoga postures, you will most likely be able to do the neck exercises and the breathing techniques, among others.

If you have tried a number of exercises and still find yourself with a painful neck and shoulders; make it a point to try some yoga neck exercises. It just may be the remedy for your ailing body and spirit.

There are some great books and DVD's and even online videos that teach yoga exercises and breathing techniques. There are also some fantastic classes offered at many health clubs, clinics, rehabilitation centers and more. It's not hard to learn, you just need the desire, patience and some self-discipline to accomplish the techniques that a good yoga instructor can provide.

A simple example of a yogic neck exercise is to sit with your head, neck and shoulders aligned, relax and breathe naturally.

1) Slowly move your head forward and downward towards your chest and slowly return it upright again. Repeat this about 5-10 times.
2) Repeat this process by slowly moving your head backwards as far as you can without forcing it and bring it upright again, repeating this 5-10 times.
3) Slowly move it to the right, as far as you can without forcing it; again repeating 5-10 times.
4) Slowly move it to the left, as far as you can without forcing it for the same 5-10 times.

Another exercise is to slowly begin to turn your head, as far as you can, to the right, hold for a second and slowly turn it facing forwards again. Then do the same thing to the left.

Repeat this exercise for 5-10 times, continuing slowly.

(Note: If you have a condition or have had vertebrate fused in the neck area, do not do the "Neck Roll" exercise listed below. Also, do not do it if you cannot loosen up your neck muscles and tendons. Forcing the stiffness out often results in further injury.)

Then let your head slowly drop towards your chest and begin to roll your head to the right, then left several times. Then, try rolling it all the way around in a circle from the front of your chest to the right, back and to the left, then back to the chest again. Do this very slowly and patiently, relaxing as much as possible.

Yoga neck exercises can not only help to relieve stress and oxygenate your brain, but they can help with eyesight, hearing, keep some headaches from occurring and promote restful sleep.

If you do these exercises, you may feel instant results, however unless you do them daily, you will not see the long-term results. As always, discuss these with your doctor to be certain that you don't have a condition that could be irritated by doing them. Once you get the "go" relax, be patient and reap the benefits!

Learn more about this author, M. L. Kiser.
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