Head and Cervical Placement

Question 1

What does the neck do?

Answer 1

-The neck has a large range of motion. Our goal is to protect it and encourage proper, tension free-alignment and movement.

Question 2

General neck rule

Answer 2

• As a general rule, the neck should always follow the line of the thoracic spine.
• For example, when the thoracic spine is in flexion, the neck is in flexion and to a similar degree. When the thoracic spine is in extension, the neck is in extension and to a similar degree. We don’t want to overly flex or extend the neck, creating tension in these scenarios.

Question 3

What do we do when lifting the head from a supine position?

Answer 3

-We ALWAYS begin with a head nod, also known as a cranio-vertebral flexion

Question 4

Exercise for head nod

Answer 4

-Inhale and nod the head, tucking the chin just slightly keeping the head on the mat. Exhale and return to looking straight up. This is really a lengthening of the back and of the neck, so we could cue it as: Inhale and lengthen the back of the neck, taking the gaze towards the knees slightly and exhale and return to looking straight up.