Keys to a Healthy Neck Posture

As a body worker, many ask me all the time "Why does my neck feel so tight? What can I do to prevent this pain from coming back?"

Here are a few reasons for your neck pain and a few things you can change to prevent the pain from coming back.


1) Many activities of daily life, whether they are at home or on the job, involve working down in front of our body. Examples include reading a book in our lap, working on a cell phone, or holding a baby. If we bring our head and neck into flexion to look down at what we are doing, the center of our head is no longer balanced over our trunk. Instead, the weight is now hanging in thin air, imbalanced and our chin would fall to our chest, bringing our neck all the way into flexion. Our heads weigh about the same as a bowing ball! Bring what you are looking at to eye level instead of flexing your head down.

 2) Ok ladies we are all guilty of this one...carrying a purse or bag on our shoulder, even if empty or very light. The natural slope of the shoulder means we are going to have to elevate the shoulder and contract the neck to prevent the bag from sliding off. It is better to wear the bag across the body or use a back pack or clutch purse, so your muscles don't have to do all the work. And we wonder why we keep our stress in our neck and shoulders more then men! I see many of you gals coming into my office with those pretty big bags. You know who you are! :)

 3) Crimping a phone between the ear and the shoulder. Everyone does this! Holding this posture requires constant contraction of all muscles in the neck. An alternative to crimping the phone is to hold it with the opposite side hand which leaves one hand free if writing is necessary. Or better yet use a head set.


4) Poor sleep posture. The average person sleeps between 6-8 hours per night, we literally sleep between one quarter and one third of our life. An unhealthy sleep posture can greatly add to a bad neck. If  you sleep on your back or side with a pillow that is too thick, your neck is forced forward. The healthiest sleep posture is either on the back with a small pillow that supports the normal curvature of the neck, or on the side with a pillow that supports the head and neck in neutral posture. Purchasing a good pillow that fits you is hard to find. You will just have to do what I do take it home try it out and if it doesn't work take it back! Darryl and I are always testing them right off the store shelves! Rest your head on all of them before you choose one. We look funny doing it while shopping, but it does give us a "head" start! Never double up your pillows as this increases uneven support.


There's my top 4! Focus on these and you will notice a difference. Otherwise, let me work on your neck and get you back in posture and start from there. I promise to get you back in check!

See you on the beach!
Ang