Neck Roll and Swan Dive Prep!
Have you been sitting and staring at screens all day? Texting and working on your phone way more than you want to? These days, I have tried to be more aware of the amount of time I spend on devices trying to work, navigate conversations with friends and colleagues, watch videos, play games, take photos, etc... while I am absolutely amazed at what we can do with all of this technology, I am constantly reminded of the strain it is putting on my neck, back, shoulder, even facial muscles... along with the eye strain that has caused me to go to a stronger eyeglass prescription in the past year (ok.. maybe that is just my age, but I don't want to admit that!)
To counterbalance all of this forward head and torso flexion when using our devices, it is important to do some exercises that strengthen and lengthen our back extensor and neck muscles. In our Pilates Mat routine, we have Neck Roll, Swan Prep, Single Leg Kick, Double Leg Kick, Swimming, and more!! And In Studio, the work on our Small Barrel, Spine Corrector, Ladder Barrel, and all of the other apparatus works our lengthening, strengthening, and maintaining our upright posture. Check out this quick video on Neck Roll and Swan Prep and incorporate some extensions in your routine!