Guest Author - Anne Asher

While they can be reversed, it is wise to remember that poor posture habits have taken many years to develop. It stands to reason, then, that to develop good posture and ideal alignment of head, neck and shoulders, working with a program over time will be both necessary and safe.

I always like to start any effort to realign my body�s posture with breathing. A deep inhale, followed by a long, slow �hissing� exhale can begin to relieve the chronic muscular holding in the shoulders and neck that most of us have. This hissing should seem as though you are letting the air out of a tire. It should not be forced.

Another excellent tool for reposturing neck and shoulders is to roll a towel and place it lengthwise along the spine. Just lie on that and practice the breathing described above. Over time the position of lying with the lengthwise support along your spine, combined with your shoulders dropping down through space toward the floor or bed you are on will encourage them to fall back, reversing the chronic rounded shoulders position. As your new shoulder posture becomes stabilized, your head may also move backward into a more ideal position.

Always listen to your body. If there is pain or discomfort with either the breathing or lying on the towel, then either adjust to your comfort or stop the activity. You may need to see a doctor to find out the underlying cause of your pain. Please do not hesitate to do so, if the pain persists.

Relax Your Neck, Liberate Your Shoulders: The Ultimate Exercise Program for Tension Relief is an excellent book for working with chronic muscle tension in the shoulders and neck.