15-Sep-2011

Shrug It Off

Shoulder-Saver Exercises

Atlas carried the world on his shoulders, but you don’t have to. The shoulders carry a lot of tension and need special attention to keep them healthy. They are the bridge between the body and the brain. When your shoulders aren’t relaxed, you’re not relaxed. Between daily stress and hunching over computers for hours on end, it’s a wonder we all don’t look like Quasimodo.

These exercises will help you keep your shoulders happy and in supple condition. Start rolling your shoulders forward with long, deep breathing for 1-2 minutes and then roll them backward. Next, inhale and bring the left shoulder up to the ear, exhale down, inhale right shoulder up, exhale down. Finally, shrug both shoulders up on the inhale and down on the exhale. Follow with some gentle neck rolls to distribute the energy. Relax and bless your shoulders as you drop the weight of the world!

Video: Easy upper back and shoulder stretches for desk-bound yogis!

Recommended: Healing Yoga for Neck & Shoulder Pain: Easy, Effective Practices for Releasing Tension & Relieving Pain by Carol Krucoff