I was lucky enough to get to go visit my 90-year-old grandmother recently.
The woman is amazing! At 90 she still travels all over the country (and internationally) and she maintains an active and happy social life.
However, she struggles with mobility…especially in her neck. She is still able to drive around town, but she finds it very hard to turn and look in each direction. And she’s afraid that if her neck gets any tighter it will interfere with her ability to continue to drive.
Our cervical spine (the neck) is naturally the most mobile part of our spine. But it also takes a lot of stress and it can easily begin to tighten up if we don’t make an effort to consciously move and stretch it.
Thankfully, it only takes a minute or two to maintain and increase your neck mobility.
Let’s do it right now.
1. Tuck your chin to your chest, relax the back of your neck and take three deep breaths. Lift your head back to neutral.
2. With your nose facing forward, tilt your right ear to your right shoulder and relax the left side of your neck for three deep breaths. Repeat on the other side and then lift your head back up to neutral.
3. Relax your shoulders down, lift up tall through the crown of your head, and turn your chin over your right shoulder for three deep breaths. Repeat the twist to the left and then return to neutral.
Done!
These simple movements will help keep your neck healthy and mobile for years to come.
Pick one time every day to stop and stretch your neck. Associate it with something else you do regularly, like checking your email or sitting down for lunch, so it’s easier to remember.