Top 3 Non-Invasive Techniques for Head and Neck Tension

1. Imagery for Tension in the Head

Imagine your head is like a balloon. As you inhale, see in your mind's eye the balloon inflating. Visualize the balloon as a round shape.

Exhale with a long, slow hissing. As you exhale see the balloon float away into the distance.2

2 Notes from Creative Body Alignment Class taught by Bernard, Andre Summer 2000.

2. Imagery for Tension in the Head and Neck

This exercise is a continuation of the imagery for the head as described above.

• With your fingers, find the indentation in the back of the neck. It is located just under the skull, where the skull joins the neck. This is called the 'neck pit'.
• Inhale as described above, filling the balloon.
• As you exhale, allow this indentation you are touching to become softer. Allow the neck pit to deepen.2

2 Notes from Creative Body Alignment Class taught by Bernard, Andre Summer 2000.

3. Focused Movement

Marc Montemerlo, a trainer of fitness trainers, offers a simple movement to release muscles of the face, neck, jaw and head:

• Touch your tounge on the roof of your mouth.
• Now bring your tounge down to touch the bottom of the inside of your mouth.
• Repeat this alternation several times to relax the surrounding muscles.3

3 Montemerlo, Marc MFITT Website Retrieved from: http://www.mfitt.co.za/default.htm May 25, 2005.