This is a my favourite exercise for dropping tension out of your shoulders and neck.
It’s simple to do. Just remember to do it slowly and smoothly and let gravity do the work.
Side to Sides
- Stand with your feet wider than shoulder width apart with legs straight and raise your arms out to the sides.
- Moving from the centre slowly lean over to the left sticking your right hip out and lowering your left arm. Let your lower arm and head hang down and raise your right arm up.
- Then slowly and smoothly do the same to the right.
- Repeat several times gradually increasing the movement.
- Don’t force yourself. Just go as far as is comfortable then change to the other side. Your body will soon open up and let you go down further.
- When you’ve reached what feels like the maximum range of movement feel free to hold it for a while letting gravity pull you down
- IMPORTANT – when you’ve finished slowly lower your arms and let them hang there. They will feel much lower than usual. Don’t give in to the temptation to move them around into a more ‘normal’ position. Remember, what feels normal to you is holding lots of tension. Let them hang down and get used to what it’s like to hold a lot less tension.