Get Into This Healthy Yoga Habit Now to Reduce ‘Tech Neck’ Before The Winter Cold Sets In

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mental health yoga

 

Get Into This Healthy Yoga Habit Now to Reduce ‘Tech Neck’ Before The Winter Cold Sets In

An expert reveals five yoga poses that can help alleviate ‘tech neck’ and shoulder tension

 

Key Findings:

  • Yoga expert explains five poses to help relieve ‘tech neck’ and other shoulder pains before winter freeze
  • Poses detailed include cat-cow pose, eagle arms pose, and child’s pose
  • Expert explains why workers suffer from tech neck, how winter cold worsens the condition, and why yoga can help

 

Over 70% of office workers report discomfort from prolonged screen time, caused by computer-induced aches and pains that have been nicknamed ‘tech neck.’ Cold weather often worsens muscle and joint pain, so banishing tech neck before winter starts is essential.

 

“Yoga’s gentle stretches and mindful movements offer a low-impact and effective remedy,” says Heather Jacoby, CEO of The Yogatique, a platform for aspiring yoga teachers. Heather shares five yoga poses to help alleviate tech neck and shoulder pain, ensuring you maintain a healthy posture.

 

Cat-Cow Pose (Marjaryasana-Bitilasana)

Cat-Cow Pose is an excellent way to start your desk detox. This dynamic stretch helps release tension in the neck and shoulders while promoting spinal flexibility.

 

Instructions:

  • Kneel on the floor and place your hands palm down on the floor in front of you. This is called ‘tabletop position’ because you should look a bit like a coffee table.
  • Then, inhale, arch your back downward, and lift your head and tailbone towards the ceiling. This is the Cow Pose. Hold it for a few seconds.
  • Then exhale and round your spine upward, tucking your chin to your chest and drawing your navel towards your spine. This is the Cat Pose.
  • Continue alternating between these two poses for about one to two minutes, synchronizing your breathing with your movements.

 

Thread the Needle (Parsva Balasana)

Thread the Needle is a soothing stretch that targets the shoulders and upper back, perfect for relieving accumulated tension.

 

Instructions:

  • Start in a tabletop position.
  • Slide your right arm underneath your left arm until your right shoulder and temple touch the mat.
  • Keep your hips raised and extend your left arm overhead for a deeper stretch.
  • Hold for about 30 seconds to a minute, then switch sides.

Eagle Arms (Garudasana Arms)

Eagle Arms can be performed seated or standing and is particularly effective for loosening tight shoulder muscles.

 

Instructions:

  • Extend your arms forward at shoulder height.
  • Cross your right arm under your left, then wrap your forearms around each other, bringing your palms to touch if possible.
  • Lift your elbows while keeping your shoulders down, feeling the stretch across your upper back.
  • Hold for 30 seconds, then switch arms.

 

Seated Forward Bend (Paschimottanasana)

This pose stretches the entire back body, including the spine and shoulders, providing relief from tech neck.

Instructions:

 

  • Sit with both your legs extended as straight as possible in front of you.
  • Inhale, lengthen your spine, and exhale, hinging at your hips to fold forward.
  • Reach for your shins or feet, keeping your spine long.
  • Hold for one to two minutes, breathing deeply.

Child’s Pose (Balasana)

Child’s Pose is a restorative posture that gently stretches the back and shoulders, perfect for concluding your desk detox routine.

 

Instructions:

  • Begin in a kneeling position with your big toes touching and your knees spread apart.
  • Then, sit back on your heels and extend your arms forward. Bring your forehead to the mat.
  • Relax and hold the pose for 1-2 minutes, allowing your breath to soothe your body.

 

Heather Jacoby, CEO of The Yogatique, commented:

“Tech neck and shoulder pain problems arise from the pose workers tend to fall into when sitting at their desks, characterized by slouched shoulders and constantly looking forward at the screen. This puts prolonged strain on the neck and upper back muscles. Targeted yoga poses can stretch and strengthen the muscles in these areas, encouraging proper alignment and relieving tension. By focusing on breathwork, yoga also helps relax muscles and reduce stress, which often exacerbates neck and shoulder pain.

“Winter cold makes muscles contract and stiffen, which can worsen already existing pain in these areas of your body. Colder temperatures also cause muscles to lose flexibility and become tight, which makes movement more difficult and can increase discomfort in already stressed muscles. Yoga improves circulation and flexibility, which can counteract this stiffness by warming up the body and promoting mobility. Regular practice helps maintain muscle elasticity, even in colder conditions.”

ENDS

 

If you want to use this release, please add credit with a link to the Yogatique website (https://theyogatique.com/). Doing so will help us offer more stories and studies in the future.

 

About The Yogatique

 

The Yogatique is an online resource that connects individuals with yoga teacher training courses, both online and in-person. They offer in-depth reviews and comparisons of various yoga teacher training programs, helping aspiring yoga teachers find the best fit for their needs. The platform also provides access to online yoga classes, yoga studio reviews, and yoga gear. With a focus on affordability and convenience, The Yogatique aims to make yoga education accessible to everyone, offering comprehensive guides and expert insights.

 

Heather Jacoby is a Certified Yoga Teacher and the visionary behind The Yogatique. With over 15 years of yoga practice, she is an RYT-200 certified instructor. Heather created The Yogatique to help yogis and growth-oriented individuals discover high-quality yoga and wellness trainings.

 

Sources

The percentage of screen time among office workers came from the Deloitte Economics Institute and the American Optometric Association.

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David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]