When you hunch over your phone for hours on end, it’s no wonder that your neck is stiff! What texting does to your neck is only the beginning of what can happen when you spend too much time hunched. What are some ways to stop this from happening? What yoga sequences will help fix it? We’ve got them all right here!
Spring is here, and it feels like things are looking up. We should be, too—looking up, that is.
When you’ve been hunkered down for a while, the body can start to take on a “hunkered down” posture: shoulders slouched, back rounded, and head bowed. You may be inadvertently straining your neck and back to curve by constantly looking down at the phone (hello, tech neck!).
Being bent over a computer, or slouching on the sofa while bingeing your favorite Netflix series. (Have you watched Lupin, by the way? Highly recommended.) Even driving can contribute to a postural habit that encourages the shoulders to round and the head to bow forward.
One problem here: Your head is heavy. That’s 10–11 pounds you’re carrying on the stalk of your neck—if you’re standing perfectly upright. Every inch of your head that dips forward adds more weight and pressure on the spine.
That slouch can lead to what orthopedic experts call hyperkyphosis—an excessive curvature of the thoracic spine. At the torso, the spine naturally curves 20–45 degrees. Anything beyond that results in round back, or worse, hunchback.
As your anatomy works overtime to counter this posture, there’s additional stress on your discs, muscles, joints, ligaments, and spinal nerves. In severe cases, it can cause pain, spinal deformity, and breathing problems.
For this reason, we want to urge our bodies to hold and move in positions that keep our spine in alignment—following its natural curves and supporting the head in a healthy way. In addition to averting the physiological issues, a shoulders-back, heart-lifted stance signals confidence.
To develop a stronger, more stable posture, try these sequences focused on your neck and shoulders:
7 Yoga Sequences for Better Posture
Yoga We Know You Need: 4 Smartphone Counterposes
The hunch in your shoulders and knots in your neck isn’t just uncomfortable, they carry an orthopedic risk. Amy Ippoliti created this practice to counteract “tech neck.”
8 Poses You Can Do at Your Desk to Improve Posture
Whether you’re working at the office or at home, these desk-friendly poses will help strengthen, lengthen and support your spine.
An Office Yoga Sequence to Restore and Rejuvenate
Practicing these rejuvenating postures can help you thrive at work. Try this quick sequence right at your desk.
This Yoga Sequence Will Save Your Posture
This 20-minute Iyengar Yoga sequence video is ideal for a stiff neck. You’ll need a couple of blocks, your mat, and a quiet corner—at the office or home.
Free Your Neck & Shoulders With Self-Myofascial Release Techniques
Here, simple techniques that combine stretching and myofascial pressure points to release neck and shoulder tension. You’ll need a few tennis balls, a small roller, and a wall.
8 Yoga Poses to Soothe Neck Tension
In this sequence, yoga teacher Gabrielle Marchese guides you through a gentle series of postures that offer quick, soothing relief from headaches and neck pain.
6 Poses to Soothe and Strengthen Your Shoulders
Try this brief sequence during your workday, or any day, to relieve shoulder stress.
Conclusion:
What Texting Does to Your Neck—And What Yoga Sequences Will Fix It.
Some ways to stop this from happening? What yoga sequences will help fix it? We’ve got them all right here! Spring is here, and it feels like things are looking up. We should be, too – looking up, that is. One problem here: Your head is heavy.
That’s ten pounds you’re carrying on the stalk of your neck if you’re standing perfectly upright; every inch of your head that dips forward adds more weight and pressure
On the spine for this reason we want our bodies to hold positions that keep us in alignment with its natural curves supporting the head in a healthy way as well as averting physiological issues slouch can lead to hyperkyphosis an excessive curvature of the thoracic spine; at the torso, the spine naturally curves 20-45 degrees anything beyond that results in round back or worse hunchback.
What yoga sequences will help fix it? We’ve got them all right here! Let’s go and give these a shot today – we know you’re going to love them too!
