Raise your hand if your neck and jaw feel fantastic right now (honestly, mine feels a little like s#!te). I am going to assume your hand is down…
I’d like to share a 9 minute movement exploration to help you find a little more space in your neck, reduce tension and gripping in your jaw, and stand with your head in a better alignment over your body. Instead of like this:
If you’re feelin’ shrimpy, clear a spot on the floor and follow along with me:
I use this exercise with my clients who have limited neck range of motion, compressed (retracted) jaws, jammed occiputs, and even migraines.
Who should do it?
Most humans who stand upright on two feet within Earth’s field of gravity will enjoy this exercise. Particularly if:
- You have a forward head posture.
- The muscles at the back of your neck and upper traps feel hard and constricted and tight.
- Your jaw muscles always feel clenched and sore.
- You grind your teeth at night.
- You get muscle tension headaches.
- You feel like your shoulders are always up to your ears.
- You’re like me and all of your life stress manifests itself in your neck and jaw.
- You’re like me and you’re constantly smiling in an attempt to overcome crippling social anxiety.
When to do it?
Anytime! I personally like to do it as part of my morning movement practice and before and/or after I do any deliberate movement/exercise. You might like to use it to break up bouts of sitting so you don’t become a stagnant clump of spineneckjaw (how I feel right now). Or use it to relax anytime you notice tension building up.
I hope you enjoy this little movement exploration and found it useful for helping your neck and jaw (and life) feel more chill.
If anything about this movement feels uncomfortable or bad in your body, don’t force through it. Not everyone needs this exercise. If you have questions, please ask!
Want more help for your neck?
You may enjoy my Movement Deep Dive session: Check Your Neck.
- Learn how your neck moves in relation to the rest of your body in gait.
- Self- assess your neck
- Explore movements that give your neck back it’s missing options for healthy ranges of motion.
And if you’d like more personalized guidance, shoot me an email or a DM on Instagram or Facebook, and we can talk about how to get your body feeling and moving better.
Love your body <3
