In The Zone
If someone tells you “You’re a pain in the neck” you surely have to look into your character’s inventory, and understand why at times you could get frustrating or annoying. And indeed, this English idiom comes from the annoying sensation generated by neck pain that seldom constricts our thoughts, limits our mobility, causes severe migraines and totally throws us out of balance. When this happens, the immediate response is to rush to the chiropractor or get a massage; to opt for a restorative yoga class or dive into the pool. The worse is when you start to take muscle relaxants or pain killers out of desperation. While all these remedies could provide considerable relief, and the pills can temporarily numb the pain, you need to consider the underlying causes for neck pain.
Like many other chronic aches such us lower back, shoulder and hip pain, neck discomfort is tension residue, generated by the stress bubble we often create for ourselves. While caught up in the bubble we forget to recognize the pain as there is so much stuff that needs to get done. We take more responsibility that we can handle until we burn out and break down. As we ride this rollercoaster of highs and lows we are exposed to moments of intense adrenaline rushes and elated emotions or sudden disappointments. Both states become counterproductive and shake us out of our heart’s gravitas. When the body cannot bear the pressure and the stress bubble bursts, we suddenly realize that we can actually do without half of our daily engagements. As we clear space to focus on the priorities, the tension in the neck gradually dissipates and we are pain-free.
Another common cause for neck pain is postural misalignment, which is also energy driven. In those cases the head is no longer an extension of the torso, but a separate compartment that juts out before the legs step up. This is a very common syndrome for type “A” personalities, whose drive and ambition throws them out of alignment with their inner purpose. Their thoughts anticipate their actions. They are mostly trapped in the cognitive realm and when they don’t see instant results they generate negative thoughts and restlessness. The stress is dumped into the neck, and then spreads into knots and cords, like a cob-web nesting into the cervical spine and shoulder girdle. The remedy for these individuals is to take on the role of observers, not of instigators, and to cultivate the patience of the inner witness as they explore every stretch of the destination, regardless of the final outcome. Yoga Nidra, or the Yoga of “enlightened rest” is perhaps the best method for them.
On a very subtle level, however, neck pain is associated with an energetic blockage in the throat center, also known in Sanskrit as “vishudha” chakra. The throat center is considered as the fountain of self-expression and when it is locked, the genuine voice cannot come out. This is either due to an innate tendency to procrastinate and to drag things indefinitely, or to anticipate and build high hopes and expectations for the future, without optimizing the opportunities that arise in the present. This spirals us back to the highs and lows of our roller-coaster, artfully snaking us through a maze of desires, without purpose or appreciation. We are unable to strike the middle ground. We are worried about moving forward with our aspirations and lingering back into our past regrets. The solution, is to take a step back into the integrity of one’s being and through appropriate asana (posture passed), mantra (chant based), pranayama (breath based) practice to awaken the throat to its natural resonance. Once you land there, you are in the zone. Your inner status has changed from being a drop in an ocean, to becoming an ocean in a drop. The micro and the macro realms overlap, and the neck regains its function as a natural extension of the spine. You savor the moment of being aligned with your higher self, pinned to your presence, like a compass – free to draw infinite circles within and without.
Yogea Neck Relieving Routine: In the Zone
Although it is primarily intended to stretch the neck and release tension build up in the cervical spine, this Yogea sequence benefits the rear body half, as it facilitates deep stretching and massage of the sides of the waste and an energetic opening of the throat, heart and solar plexus centers. The sequence starts with targeted neck-opening breathing exercises and emphasizes spinal elongation and pelvic alignment. Standing poses introduced in the warm up and coupled with modified Sun Salutes incorporate a variety of head pulls, rolls and twists. The fontanel and the sides of the skull are also stimulated through semi-inversions, as self massage of the neck is performed. Core toners, meridian crossings and spinal bound twists pair with hip openers and deep squats to energetically unblock any tension residing in the mutually inclusive ball and socket joints of the hips and shoulders. A modified and supported headstand followed by the logical counter posing of plow, shoulder stand and fish pose wind the body and mind down, opening a portal of awareness that transports the practitioner into the “zone”.
Thank you! I thought I was doing some of these stretches before, but after following your instructions and getting a MUCH better stretch, I realize I was not doing them correctly at all. Excellent explanations and pictures. I will be checking out your other posts.Thanks for your valuable video.
Yoga Bali
Thanks for your comments. Yes we try to explain the stretches elaborately, so the energetic and anatomical alignment is clear. But we also have an Asana Lab Series once a month, where we break poses down explaining them, so that you can learn. You may want to check them out. Keep up your great practice! And thanks for your comments! They are so valuable to us!