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The Stretches: Any time during the day when you notice how tense you have become. One suggestion is that you move each time you save your document if you work at a computer all day. If you are driving you can flex your shoulders in traffic queues, drawing them down forward and back. Deliberately stretch your neck when you check for traffic at junctions, try it with your shoulders facing forwards, and moving from the waist. Those clicking sensations are a sure sign that you need to stretch more often. How often should I massage my neck? Once a week, when your neck and shoulders ache or at the telltale sign of a headache. Maintenance While seated: With your hands behind your neck, stroke very firmly starting from the centre of your neck at the top and moving down your shoulders. Repeat over and over again to warm and relax the area. This next bit is better done lying down to take the weight off the muscles that you are massaging: With the fingers of both hands press on each side at the back of your neck, start either side and just below the bone that sticks out at the base of your neck. Make little circles up the sides of your neck vertebrae and then along scalp edge at the base of your skull. Repeat twice. Stroke from the top of your neck down to the collar bone, several times, moving from the back to the front. Avoid going over your windpipe at the very front. Next take a handful of shoulder muscle in each hand. Squeeze and let go. Do this several times. Move across your shoulder width repeating, and then drawing the muscle through your grip before letting go. Using your fingers in little circles again find the sore parts of the shoulder muscles and move over them. Pick up smaller parts of the muscles between your fingers and pinch gently. You may wish to do one shoulder at a time or both at once. Finally stroke the area again. | ||
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CATHERINE HOLLAND Tel: 0701 7415310 Email: catherine@catherineholland.co.uk | |
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