The holiday period can be a source of increased stress where there can be less time to do all the things we want.
Our “to do” list may be a little longer than usual.
As the pressures, tension and stresses keep adding up. Our neck can take the brunt of it.
The Stress of Neck and Shoulder Pain
See, all stress isn’t bad. There is both positive and negative stress.
The good stress comes in thinking about all the wonderful gifts. Or things we’d like to give or do for our loved ones this season.
The negative stress may happen as we get ‘er done. Filling in the list with little time or not enough dough to fulfill wishes.
So these tensions can add up especially in the neck and shoulder area.
So how can we handle it so it doesn’t adversely affect us? Or take us down?
What can we safely do to effectively release the valve of ongoing demands or pressure?
Consciously Pandiculate It Out
One simple way is to pandiculate out the building negative tension. This way we keep it bay so we can continue to take on stress or tension as it comes.
That way it won’t overwhelm or leave us feeling run over.
Plus, this conscious act can help us restore comfort levels.
How?
By “feeling where” we actually “feel our movement coming from”. Let me explain.
Lenses of Doing and Feeling
See conscious pandiculation is like watching and feeling yourself. Physically moving through a few lenses.
The one of actually physically ’doing’ the moving or a movement.
Another is ‘noticing any subtle feelings’ which arise. Or not.
Plus, ‘feeling’ where you move from is one part. ‘Feeling’ how you get back is another.
Each can feel or be sensed or felt a little differently.
Like driving a car back and forth from a destination. You may notice things one way. Then you can see things another way on the return trip.
That way you get the bigger or more complete picture.
Level Up
And to go to another feeling level. Is to notice or feel your internal connections. Or lack thereof.
In other words. When you move the neck bone around. Do you in fact feel your hip bone?
See, that might sound simplistic. Until you delve into the murky worlds of proprioception.
In essence, a conscious pandiculation can help us learn. Or remember how we are connected among our various levels of muscles. Or not! ; )
How To Lower Tension in the Neck
So watch the video below for a nifty movement to ‘both do and feel’ your internal terrain or state of being.
Plus, you’re going to get to learn how to do a nifty hands-on pandiculation technique. This can help further lower tension or stress in the neck.
How did it go?
Did you feel or notice the same turning the neck one way? Then the other?
Did you feel the connection? To where or what other parts of yourself?
What other body parts came into play?
Did you ask yourself if they were supposed to? ; )
If you didn’t feel a thing. That’s just information and where you are at today.
So no worries if you didn’t. That can gradually come back as you artfully play with your movement system.
And egads did you hear me mention icing? Well, here’s the deal on that too.
See, that neck movement is one of the many little movements in The 1 Thing to Do. That is where I further break down movement into the ‘doing’ and ‘feeling’.
And now you have another means by seeing how to do a hands-on part of it.
Of course it’ll require some practice to get good at it.
So get back to it. And take those tension breaks when necessary.
Or as often as you’d like to get into the feel good or relaxation zone.
