At the age of 14, I was slightly boy-entranced. My Grammie used to joke that I'd get whiplash if I wasn't more careful. Particularly luminous lads would often catch my eye (and crane my neck) as we were driving around. My head seemed to act of its own accord. Apparently it has hormones, too.
Nowadays, we the people don't even look at each other. Our eyes are only for our gadgets. Rubbernecking is a thing of the past. Today's great affliction. . . is TEXT NECK. But fear not, hangdog head-schlumpers, yoga is your cure-all.
- Cat/Cow Pose (Marjaryasana/Bitilasana) - Provides a good warm-up, feels amazing, and allows you to both rest and flex your neck. Channel feline grace and bovine calm as you move.
- Neck Rolls - Simple and can be done anywhere. Be careful not to take your head too far back when rolling in that direction.
- Standing Forward Fold (Uttanasana) - Like Tom Petty's "Free Fallin,'" your neck gets to hang loose and be itself.
- Child's Pose (Balasana) - Your head is supported like a bebe, with an easy stretch in the opposite direction of text neck, gently righting the wrong.
- Corpse Pose (Savasana) - Instead of the weight of the world falling on your neck and head as your bleary eyes scan your screen, you are at rest. You can relax in full support and look at the sky...or the back of your eyelids.
May your neck be that of a non-texting swan,
(pose photos: yoga journal; neck roll artwork: energy enhancement)
Love this!!! Text neck is never any fun... You gotta work it out so you can look around xo -Lizzie
Posted by: Liz | Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 06:27 AM
OMG - I so have text neck! Well actually a lot of my issues are from sitting hunched over my computer!
Love the story about you and your grandma & the link to the honeys (that's an oldie but goodie)!
Our heads are like bowling balls that our neck has to support all day, so it is so good to give them a break once in a while. My text neck is thanking you profusely right now Lo!! :)
Posted by: Maria @downwarddog [aka Tasty M] | Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 06:32 AM
I often realize that Text Neck goes with Wonky Back, so going into Cat Pose is perfect for me. I should probably try Child's Pose - don't really know why I never thought of that... Shame!
Posted by: natalie | Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 07:32 AM
Great tips, Lo. Adho mukha savasana (downward facing corpse) is also good for whatever ails you. Practice on a couch, ideally on Saturday afternoon after yoga class. Hold for 90 minutes.
Posted by: David | Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 08:59 AM
You are so cute! And practical! Text neck is totally computer screen neck (and back and shoulders for me) - love these simple and relaxing poses!
Posted by: MyMiBoSo | Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 09:21 AM
Oh! So that's what's wrong with my neck! DUH!!!!
♥♥♥
Posted by: MeredithLeBlanc | Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 07:31 AM
Child's pose uses the same position as text neck.... not the opposite.... but CAT on the other hand..... sublime!!!
Posted by: Dianne | Monday, February 27, 2012 at 03:57 PM
Dianne — thanks for the note!
While Child's pose appears to mock text necking, your head is resting on the ground with the rest of the body giving in to gravity, thus providing gentle pressure on the neck and head in the opposite direction. This backward push relieves the constant forward-hang of texting.
And it feels darn good! ;)
Posted by: Lo | Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 12:29 PM
Text neck is a real problem! Thank you for addressing it with these poses.
Posted by: Anamaya Resort | Monday, March 05, 2012 at 09:23 AM
Aaah! I couldn't agree more! A friend of mine recently upgraded herself from a mobile phone to a smart phone and I've been screaming foul since! :/
P.S. I'm sendin' her this link!
Posted by: Smriti | Friday, March 09, 2012 at 11:29 PM