Head and Neck Pain: How to Relieve It and Keep Your Head in Balance
Simple Exercises You Can Do at Your Desk
Photo by ali abiyar on Unsplash
I’m off to teach on my retreat tomorrow, I’m looking forward to being in community with people, hanging out in the beautiful space, moving to soothe, and of course being cooked for.
What with teaching, writing, marketing my work and planning lessons, I have been on my laptop…a lot! My head and neck are feeling it. Keeping your head stuck in the same position will make you feel sore, tired and kranky. Yet when in the full flow of life, it’s hard to take a rest from your fixed focussed position.
When your head is in the forward thrust or in the “tech neck” position, it affects the tone of your muscles body wide. But understanding the structures that keep your head in balance, will help you to better look after yourself.
Even when you are up against it.
Let’s take a look at the complex structure of your head, which is made up of many different parts. The neck bones, the ears, and the vestibular or balance system all work together to allow you to move your head in all directions.
The neck bones, or cervical vertebrae, are the smallest and most mobile of the vertebrae. Your neck bones allows for a wide range of movement in the neck, which is necessary for smooth head movement.
The ears are responsible for hearing and balance. The vestibular system is a part of the inner ear that is responsible for balance and spatial orientation. It is made up of three semi-circular canals and two otolith organs.
When you move your head, the fluid in the semi-circular canals and otolith organs moves. This bends the hairs on the hair cells, which signals the brain about the direction and speed of head movement. The brain uses this information to keep the body balanced and to maintain spatial orientation.
How does this help my sore neck?
Knowing this will help you to understand the importance of to moving your head in all directions to keep the neck bones, the ears, and the vestibular system healthy. When you move your head, you stimulate the muscles and joints in the neck, which helps keep them strong and flexible. You are also stimulating the hair cells in the ears, which helps to keep them functioning well.
If you don't move your head enough, the muscles and joints in the neck can become stiff and weak. This can lead to neck pain and headaches. The hair cells in the ears can also become damaged, leading to dizziness and balance problems.
What movements are good for head and neck mobility?
There are many ways to move your head in all directions. You can do simple exercises, such as nodding yes slowly and turning your head from side to side You can also do more challenging exercises, such as making circles with your nose in one direction and the other and even tiny oscillation movements.
Try this head and neck mobilisation, you can do sitting down at your desk, although my preference is to sit move away from your desk as it means you change your position and your perspective.
What’s going on:
The Soothe Group 8-week Programme launches on Thursday 5th October, learn to effortlessly change how you respond to life.
The May 2024 Soothe Retreat is filling up, don’t miss it, full details here.
Monthly membership for live classes and on demand classes only £39 per month. Set up good movement patterns now, your future self will thank you.
Thank you for reading, enjoy the sunshine!
Nahid x