{"id":2428,"date":"2018-02-23T16:58:07","date_gmt":"2018-02-23T16:58:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pilateswithpriya.co.uk\/?p=2428"},"modified":"2018-02-23T16:58:07","modified_gmt":"2018-02-23T16:58:07","slug":"where-the-head-lead-the-body-follows","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pilateswithpriya.co.uk\/?p=2428","title":{"rendered":"Where the head lead the body follows"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hands up, who uses a smart phone daily? Or sits at a laptop\/computer? I know I do and although it isn\u2019t great for my posture it is something that I need to do in order to work. Modern life is not good for our bodies, so the best thing we can do is to be aware and to combat our bodies compensations. Or all give up technology\u2026. not going to happen!<\/p>\n

One of the main issues is the position of your neck. Leaning to look down at a screen is causing the vertebrae in the neck to jam up and get stuck for space. It increases the wear and tear in the neck. It is the same when you wear a heavy rucksack, to compensate you jut your neck forward. (Note to parents, keep your children\u2019s rucksacks light!).<\/p>\n

Do you get headaches, have a pain at the base of your skull or tight neck\/shoulders? All this can be linked.<\/p>\n

Our head weighs 10-12lbs but when you change the angle if increases this effective weight, so a 15 degree angle changes this to 27lbs and a 60 degree angle makes it 60lbs!!!<\/p>\n

Try placing your fingers on the very base of you neck, just above the big boney first part of your spine. How do your vertebrae in your neck feel? Jammed up or with space between them? Trying drawing your chin back so you have a double chin and then lengthening up through the crown on the head, how different is it?<\/p>\n

When your neck is forward jutting you should feel that pressure on the back of the neck and the vertebrae are very close together. As you lengthen back to neutral spine the load and pressure is released and there is space for those vertebrae once more.<\/p>\n

Our heads set the tone for the rest of the body (as do the feet) so if you head and neck posture are not in good alignment then it can affect the rest of the kinetic chain. The body is like one of these baby toys\u2026. when you push one part it affects another area too. It\u2019s all connected!<\/p>\n

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The solution? Start eavesdropping! Well at least pretend to. Assume the posture of standing tall and thinking about eavesdropping on someone behind you and it should help you draw your head and neck back into alignment.<\/p>\n

Also try out this exercise:<\/p>\n