Yoga for neck and shoulder pain consists of many beneficial poses. The top ten poses are:
Thread the Needle
Thread the needle is excellent yoga for shoulders. It is a simple stretching movement that imparts strength to the shoulders. Pain or tightness in the shoulders, chest and upper back could be relieved effectively.
Steps to perform this exercise:
- Get down on your hands and knees.
- Move the right arm forwards such that it touches the ground.
- Move the left hand below and between the right arm and the right knee.
- Stretch the arms and upper body, assuming the arm is a thread to an imaginary needle.
- Hold the pose for 30 seconds for the best results.
- It would be better to support the shoulders with a cushion or a cotton roll to protect the neck while stretching.
- Avoid this pose if suffering from severe back pain, arthritis, spondylitis, or any other condition that affects breathing or causes severe muscle pain.
Sphinx Pose
Sphinx pose is one of the shoulder-opening yoga poses that work prominently on the spine, running right from the neck down to the tailbone. It is highly responsible for strengthening the shoulders and relieving pain. It is because the primary muscles involved in these stretches are the shoulders and arms.
Steps to perform this exercise:
- Start by lying on your stomach.
- Keep the ankles at the width of the hips.
- With slightly wider hands than shoulder width, push the upper body against the floor.
- Look forward and hold the pose.
- Keep the gaze straight ahead to ensure the spine is extended and stretched within limits.
- Hold this position for 10 to 15 seconds and repeat it 2 to 3 times.
Cat-Cow Pose
A good yoga routine for neck and shoulder pain always includes the cat-cow pose. The cat-cow pose opens the chest, targeting the muscles in the shoulders and neck, stretching out sufficiently. Further, it helps release the neck's tension by extending and stretching the muscles.
The potency of this pose is wide to not only help with the neck and shoulders but also strengthen the abdominal muscles.
Steps to perform this exercise:
- Lie down on your knees and hands.
- Place the knees below the hips and hands below the shoulder with shoulder width apart.
- Start by arching the back and extending the neck. Try to look up at the ceiling while maintaining this pose. Hold this position for 2 to 3 seconds and inhale while doing so. It is the cat pose.
- Release the arched-back posture by rounding the spine and looking down at your legs. It is the cow pose.
- Perform this exercise 10 to 12 times.
- Avoid doing this exercise if suffering from knee or wrist injury.
Rest with Knee to Chest
This yoga pose for shoulder pain allows an individual to reset the spine and release tension. Another name for this pose is Supta Pavanamuktasana, meaning wind relieving or removing pose, which suggests that this pose helps release gas by acting on the digestive system.
This pose stretches arms, shoulders, and abdomen. Further, studies suggest that this pose is one of those asanas that considerably reduces spine pain, particularly in the neck and back area.
Steps to perform this exercise:
- Lie on the back.
- Flex and pull the knees closer to the abdomen while maintaining a proper posture.
- Hold this position for about 15 seconds.
- Perform it 2 to 3 times to see the best results.
- Women in the second or third trimester of pregnancy should avoid doing this exercise. Do not perform this exercise if you recently underwent abdominal surgery. Avoid this if suffering from a hernia.
Cow Face Pose
The cow face pose is another effective shoulder-opening yoga pose that stretches the chest and shoulders.
Steps to perform this exercise:
- Sit on a comfortable chair properly and maintain the correct posture.
- Bend the arms and raise the elbow such that the hands touch your back.
- With the help of the right hand, pull the left hand to feel the stretch in the shoulders and arms.
- Keep the spine upright.
- Maintain this pose for about 30 seconds at least.
- Switch to the other side.
Puppy Pose
The puppy pose can be regarded as an ideal yoga for shoulder strength as it works explicitly on the muscles of the shoulders. Along with strengthening the shoulders, this pose stretches out the back, contributing to pain and stress relief in the upper body.
It's a kind of inversion pose that satisfactorily stretches the muscles in the back and shoulders; thus, it stands as a good yoga for shoulder pain.
Steps to perform this exercise:
- Try this exercise on a mat for better grip and stretch.
- Start in a tabletop position with the knees and wrists placed directly beneath the hips and shoulders.
- Lower the arms until the elbows touch the mat.
- Extend the arms, put your hands forward and lower the chest toward the floor.
- Maintain straight knees under the hips and a shoulder-width distance between the hands.
- Place the forehead down on the ground.
- Stay in this position for a minute and take deep breaths.
- Lift the head and chest while walking the hands back into the tabletop.
- This pose engages the arms, buttocks, shoulders, and back while the neck relaxes.
Corpse Pose
Practising this pose at the end of all the stretches is usually recommended. It is because the corpse pose or lying supine corpse pose is known for releasing the stress or tension of the workout and allowing the body to relax completely. It is also known as Supta Savasana, proven for loosening tight muscles and offering them great strength.
Steps to perform this exercise:
- Lie on the back with arms resting alongside.
- Keep the posture straight, as shown in the image and take deep breaths.
- Remain in this pose for about 5 minutes, aligning the spine, neck, and head.
Warrior ll Pose
Just like the name says, the Warrior ll pose leads to a war stance where one feels a good stretch in the chest and the shoulder areas. It could even be regarded as freeing the chest and shoulders with the barriers of the folds and pain. It is also called Virabhadrasana ll and is known to work on the neck and back region.
This pose is one of the most effective shoulder-opening yoga poses that open the chest and shoulders and offer immense strength.
Steps to perform this exercise:
- Stand with the feet around 1 metre apart.
- Turn the right leg, including the foot, shin, knee, and thigh, outward 90 degrees.
- Turn the left foot towards the right foot, as shown in the picture.
- Then slowly twist the pelvis inward.
- Sweep the arms out in front of you to chest level and then out to the sides.
- As you spread your arms wide, widen your chest and upper back.
- Maintaining a proper posture while working doing this stretch.
- Remain in this position for about 30 seconds before switching to the other side.
- Avoid this exercise if suffering from diarrhoea or high blood pressure.
Mountain Pose
Mountain pose or Tadasana is a standing yoga pose showing the benefits of eliminating spine problems such as neck and shoulder pain. Along with taking off the pain, the mountain pose helps improve flexibility, enhance strength, and work on the body's overall posture.
For the ones questioning how to reduce shoulder fat through yoga? Mountain and extended triangle poses are the stretches that should be practised to reduce shoulder fat through yoga.
Steps to perform this exercise:
- Stand straight with both feet together.
- Roll the shoulders along with the arms upwards.
- Hold this pose for 10 seconds, and then bring them down.
- Inhale while lifting and exhale while bringing the shoulders down.
- Perform this exercise 10 to 15 times.
- Keep the distance of feet a little wider if pregnant. People with low blood pressure, vertigo or migraine must avoid this exercise.
Extended Triangle
The extended triangle pose, or Utthita Trikonasana, is excellent for beginners trying yoga for shoulders. This pose works on the shoulders, resulting in the activation of muscles and strengthening the length of the spine. It works well on the nervous, muscular and skeletal structure of the body, imparting strength and flexibility to the neck and back area.
Steps to perform this exercise:
- Stretch your body in a way that makes a triangular structure.
- Hold this pose for about 30 seconds and then perform it on the other side.
- Do this five times to get relief from shoulder and neck pain.
- Avoid this pose if suffering from an ankle injury.