Your head actually sits all the way up between your ears--this is where your cervical spine begins. To explore this placement of head on spine, even as you read this newsletter, notice your jaw. Are you holding tension somewhere in the area? Feel the jaw slacken and drop open a little bit. Begin to nod your head up and down, saying yes. Imagine your head like a large fishbowl with a tiny ball sitting at the bottom. As you nod your head back and forth, the ball rolls along the bottom of the bowl. To embody this image while you're walking, imagine this little ball in your fish bowl gently rolling and sliding around as you walk. Can your head sit a little easier, a little less strained on the top of your spine.
While you are beginning to unwind from your day, take some time to lie on your bed or on the floor. Try moving into some of these gentle nods. Relax your outer neck and throat muscles. Take a nice, easy swallow. Feel the weight of your skull fall onto the surface underneath you. Imagine your head like a little raft, floating on top of water. Allow your jaw to fall open and the space between your eyes to soften. Begin to gently nod your chin towards your chest without lifting your head off the floor or mattress. Then let the chin float back up to a more neutral place. Place a book or small pillow under your head, if you'd like. See if you can find a position where the head lines up with the spine.
As you do this movement, imagine that place right between your ears--the top of your cervical spine. Feel the back of the neck lengthen as you nod your chin in and feel the front of the throat open as you float your chin back to neutral. Breath easily and deeply. Try exhaling to nod your chin in and inhaling to float your chin towards neutral. Move throat a range that feels comfortable for your body, focusing more on letting go than on how much you are moving. This gentle nod of the head will help strengthen some of your deep neck flexors, which can help support the weight of your head. It will allow allow some of your superficial neck muscles (the ones that tend to get really tight) to relax a little bit.
If you're interested and would like to explore some of these ideas and more in greater depth, join Kea Kapahua and me for our Pilates workshop:
Ease the Jaw, Relax the Neck
Friday, July 22, 4:30-6 pm
Vitalize Studio (2154 S. Highland Drive)
$20 cash/check
Mats are provided
We'd love to see you there:) Email to register, laura.blakely@gmail.com. Or, feel free to stop by. The studio is nice and spacious.
