I have written several posts about how yoga neck rolls are:
1) a perfect way to wake-up and warm-up your yoga practice
2) a soothing technique you can use to relax fully before going to sleep and,
3) an aid to work out the kinks from your neck and shoulders if you have been sitting at an office desk too long.
However, recently, I made an additional discovery about the value of yoga neck rolls. They are tremendous for boosting your energy when an afternoon lull sets in! As such, I am re-sharing information about neck rolls because of their immense value.
A few weeks ago, I had not gotten enough sleep one night because various chores and night activities kept me busy past my ideal bed time.
The following afternoon, my body's energy began to nosedive and I could barely keep my eyes open at my desk!
Prompted by my intuition, I went to the ladies' room and did a full set of neck rolls as a 5-minute break.
Almost instantly following those neck rolls I felt like Lazarus being brought back to life!
I could not believe how my energy surged back into my body - uncanny! (Or maybe not...I had forgotten how energizing yoga can be).
Yoga neck rolls are now my go-to technique for chasing away any afternoon lulls that my body sometimes experiences, especially if I have gotten too little sleep the previous night.
Does this mean I can get by on less sleep? Absolutely not!
We must still be wise and honor our body's need for adequate rest.
But, as a quick energy boost, the yoga neck rolls pictured and explained below are amazing!
Neck Rolls
How to do the pose:
1. Stand or sit erect and relaxed with your hands and arms at your sides or on your knees if seated.
2. Breathe in and out slowly and relax for a few seconds.
3. First inhale and gently drop your head so that your chin is resting on your chest on or below your collarbone or as far as you comfortably can reach in the beginning. Hold for one or two seconds and exhale as you slowly raise your head and resume its upright position. Repeat this movement two more times.
4. Inhale and gently drop your head toward your back so the back of your head is touching your back or as far as you can comfortably go. Hold for one second. If you are very stiff and haven’t done many neck movements in years, you may experience discomfort. Take it easy and move gently. Exhale and move your head back slowly to its upright position.
5. Inhale and turn your head as far as is comfortable to the left side (no, you are not going to do a full head turnaround as in the Exorcist!), hold for a second, exhale and return your head to the center starting position. Be careful not to move your shoulders as you turn your head to the side. You want to maximize the neck stretch. Repeat twice more. Do the same movements to the right side and back three times.
6. Inhale and move your head straight downward to the left side, hold for a second, exhale, and return head to upright position. Repeat twice more on left side. Do the same movement on the right side three times.
7. Inhale and drop your head very slowly until your neck is completely limp and your chin is resting on your chest on or below your collarbone, or as far as you can comfortably go.
8. Ever so slowly, roll your head to your right side. Keep your neck loose and allow the weight of your head to pull your neck muscles. Imagine you are a marionette and someone is gently maneuvering the strings that move your neck.
9. Continue moving your head slowly until your head is touching your back. (You are making a half, not a full circle).
10. Exhale and gently roll head back to the front. Lift your head and resume its upright position. Repeat twice more on the left. Do the same movements on the right side three times.
Practice time: 3 repetitions of the above neck movements take about 5 minutes.
Additional comments/advice:
Neck rolls are feasible for most beginners. If you have had any neck injuries or whiplash, check with your physician or medical adviser before trying them.
If done gently, however, neck rolls can help strengthen the neck area and heal it from injury. As yogi Erich Schiffman recommends in his book, Yoga – The Spirit and Practice of Moving into Stillness, keep your eyes closed as you do the neck rolls to “magnify the sensations.”
At first, you may hear cracking or graveling noises in your neck as you move your head. I heard mild crunching at the top of my neck when I began doing neck rolls. However, with consistent gentle practice, your head should be able to revolve smoothly as if it had been well lubricated and any crunching or cracking noises should be minimal. Remember, never jerk your head in any way. Think s – m – o – o – t – h movement.
Yours for gently rolling your neck for an energy boost.
Laura Venecia Rodriguez, The Beginners' Yoga at Home Coach
TM
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