Shoulder Tension - let it go!

Shoulder Tension afflicts us all at some time, but it does seem aggravated by tense positions during breastfeeding & by carrying children. This can be in the early days when you feed so often, or in later months when your child becomes much heavier!

Simple changes in position can be of huge benefit.  There are two excellent exercises (shoulder releases) on this page from Mothering, but here I'm also passing on some additional tips from my favourite British Wheel of Yoga teacher (my Mum!).

Shoulder Releases

Most folks get shoulder tension!! Those releases shown in the Mothering article are excellent but, for a lot of folks [me included], they are TOO strong...

1. Stand erect. Reach your right arm up and over your head to cover your left ear. Pull your head gently toward your right shoulder as you keep your left shoulder even. Hold your head for a count of 10. Release and let your head float up on its own. Repeat on the left side.

Be gentle with yourself & try this instead - do that but without the arms applying the extra pressure. Use a visualisation (try this page? Ed) and just 'exhale deeply and relax a bit more' x3,   or x23!

2. Clasp your hands behind the middle of the back of your head with your elbows flared. Bow your head toward your chest. Relax 30 seconds in this postion. Raise your head slowly as you sit up. Take three deep breaths.

Be gentle with yourself & try this instead - I imagine my forehead is resting on a pile of books and sigh to relax even more.

There are loads of simple 'warm up' exercises, but none of them are magic wands:

This yoga lady is a tad annoying but very clear (link here to her YouTube set).

"Shoulder tension releases are not just for Xmas

- some things you've just got to adopt."