CHIN LOCK & NECK RETRACTION


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The posture of the neck determines the position in which one holds the head. Many postural adaptations develop during adolescence. For example, if you are tall during high school you probably have to look down at your peers and begin to hunch over. On the other hand, if you are short, you often develop the habit of extending the neck backward as you look up. Over time the body adapts to these postures. Under such circumstances the slightest trauma to the neck will result in acute, or short and severe symptoms flaring up. 

In ideal posture (looking at the head from the front) both the eyes, ears, and shoulders are parallel to the ground. From the side profile the ears are in line with the shoulders and form a perpendicular line with the ground. 

CHIN LOCK &  NECK RETRACTION Most individuals stand with their head thrust forward. When the head is forward, the chin is slightly extended, and a great deal of muscle tension, tightness, and fatigue is experienced at the base of the neck and the top of the upper back. If one holds a 10-pound weight with the arms extended forward, after a short while, the muscles employed to support this weight become fatigued, and pain sets in throughout the arms and neck. Take the same weight, brace it tightly to the body so minimal or zero muscle effort is required, and one can easily hold this weight for extended periods. CHIN LOCK &  NECK RETRACTION For every one-inch shift from the head’s center of gravity, the neck and shoulder muscles must recruit an additional 10-pound force. 

CHIN LOCK &  NECK RETRACTION For example, a person employed as an assembly line quality-control checker, who is required to bend over a moving conveyor belt to eyeball products as they pass by is in a position where the head leans forward 4 inches from the normal center of gravity. In this case, the muscles supporting the head will require an extra 40-pound force to do their job – that is, to hold the head up! When this type of activity is pursued over long periods, the body considers this to be an imbalance of what nature intended. The muscles revolt against the undue stress on the ligaments and joints of the neck. This out-of-alignment posture may eventually lead to osteoarthritic changes in the neck. 

Similarly, in individuals with bad neck posture, the center of gravity of the head shifts away from the neck and body. The poor posture stresses the neck muscles, causing the muscles to work harder and burn more energy just to hold the head up all day! 

If one has a tendency to walk with the shoulders hunched forward, during episodes of physical and mental stress this misaligned posture becomes worse, the head slouches forward, causing undue stress on the neck. 

Remember the three “P’s”: 

PRACTICE 
                              PERFECT 
                                                      POSTURE 

Optimum chin and neck posture is achieved by gently drawing the chin backward, not dropping, into the neck and lifting the top of the head up to the sky.

Vishal Yoga Life