A friend of mine recently got in touch to ask for tips on releasing tight shoulders. He works for himself and is often at the computer for hours on end.
Here are 3 easy tips on how to release tension in the shoulders.
In this short video I’ve show you 3 steps to releasing tension in your shoulders. First step is to stand up and swing the arms. Second is to move the whole spine and lastly it really helps to open up the front of the body to release tension in the back.
Remember that everything is connected, so just because you feel pain in one place it doesn’t mean the pain originates in the same place. Connective tissue is called that for a reason! Therefore these suggested movements are to help create release in the connective tissue around the shoulders and the spine.
How to avoid tight shoulders? Posture is key. Think of your skeleton / spine as scaffolding. If the scaffolding is properly upright the muscles have very little extra work to do. If you’re sitting out of alignment the muscles have to work much harder to keep you upright. Remember:
- crown of head aligned over heart centre (middle of the upper chest)
- heart centre aligned over pelvis
- natural curves in the spine
- keep shoulders relaxed
You may need to adjust your seated position at your desk in order to achieve this alignment.
One last thing – get up and move around often. This will help to reduce the build up of tension.
Let me know if you need any other tips or suggestions!