It all comes down to releasing the shoulders...

How many of you that have either attended one of my classes, a 1:1 or a treatment and we've chatted about how important releasing your shoulders is? For many years my shoulders lived up beside my ears. Honestly, when I first started attending Pilates my teacher used to tell me each week, to release my shoulders (which was easier said than done!). I didn't know how you see, it's all very good saying the words but I had no connection on how to do this or how it would feel when I did. It took months for me to ‘release’ them, and quite often I still find myself noticing they've sneaked all the way back up - but I notice. Then I let them back down. 

I do this because I know that when they navigate north I create tension in my neck, shoulders, arms and back. What happens then? Many things can happen (and many have happened); headaches/migraines, neck pain, shoulder pain, arm pain, neuralgia/jaw pain, misalignment/posture problems....the list goes on and this is solely my personal experience. 

Aside from just being aware of when they are not where they should, which I get can be easier for me to notice because I talk about it ALL THE TIME, I use different methods to help me. Occasionally I use cues such as imagining I'm drawing my shoulder blades down to the back pockets of my jeans (not my favourite but it works). Sometimes I use techniques such as squeezing my shoulders up to my ears with a breath in and releasing heavy with a breath out, or heart opening where I lie down on a flat surface and place a pillow between my shoulder blades along the length of my spine (but not too long that I'm arching my back) and let my arms relax out by my side and let shoulders release. This one can be a little intense so use a thin cushion or even a small folded blanket and only stay in position for 5 minutes max. 

Then of course there’s treatments. The obvious choice - shoulder massage, but truth be told sometimes there’s a little too much tension for any pressure to be applied. Reiki and Reflexology are amazing treatments that can help with relaxing the body and mind which in turn aids relaxation - would you imagine that! Both treatments are all about realigning the energy within your body and creating a more harmonious place to be in.