6 Quick Exercises to relieve neck pain

We spend countless hours on the computer or the TV nowadays. For this reason our neck is subjected to stiffness and neck pain. Neck pain further results in stress and feeling inactive for the rest of the day.

To get rid of neck pain and the stiffness that we feel after spending countless hours in front of TV or computer screens neck exercises are available. Neck exercises should be incorporated in our daily routine. Neck exercises helps in maintaining range of motion or loss of movement is regained in the neck.

There is a number of neck exercises designed to get rid of neck pain. Some of these exercises are given below:

1. Neck flexion: Move your head backwards. After this, you should move the head forward such that it touches your chest and stare at the floor. Now lift back your head to original position. Repeat the exercise for five times. With these exercise increases stretch on neck is increased.

2. Neck extension: First move back the head such that you are looking at the ceiling. This should be done in a gradual movement. Hold this position for few seconds before returning to original position. You should repeat this exercise five times. With this exercise the joints are forced to extreme position at back of the neck.

3. Rotation: First you should turn your head slowly to one side until you can’t move it forward further. You should hold the neck in this position for few seconds before returning to original position. Now turn your head to the one side five times before turning to other side for five times.

4. Side flexions: First you should keep the head with face facing forward. Then bend your ear towards your shoulder without rotating your body to the side. Now return to your initial position. Repeat this exercise about five times before performing it on the other ear.

5. Neck Retraction: For this you have to keep your face straight. Now, draw your head backwards while moving your chin downwards slightly. You should hold this position for few seconds before returning to the original position. Neck retraction is similar with to and fro motion of a chicken.

6. Upper nodding of neck: Lie on your back flat. You can place pillow below your head. Now rock the neck by rotating your head forward. Make sure not to lift the head from bottom surface. You may feel tightening pull in your upper neck. Return to the original position. Do not perform this by pushing head hard.

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Sun Salutation : Surya Namaskar

Suryanamaskar combines Yogasanas and Pranayama and brings about the general flexibility of the body preparing it for further Asanas and Pranayama. This is usually done both at sunrise and sunset, facing the Sun.

There are mainly 2 modes of performing Suryanamaskar. In one, there are 12 steps or counts and in the other only 10 in each round. Each stage of Suryanamaskar is accompanied by regulation of breath.

The 12 steps of the Suryanamaskar are as follows:

1. Stand erect with the legs together and palms together. Take the hands above the head and bend the trunk backwards. Here, inhale fully.

2. Bend the body to the bend and touch the knees by the forehead. Keep the palms on the floor on either side of the legs. Exhale fully.

3. In this stage, kick the right leg back, take the left knee forward, look up and inhale. Touch the thigh with the heel.

4. In the next step, take the left leg also back, resting only on palms and toes; keep the body straight from head to toes inclined to the ground at about 30 degree. Here exhale completely.