GET YOUR SHOULDERS OUT OF YOUR EARS
Today’s tip I learned from my long-time friend Lyn Erickson. I worked a summer at her family’s International Hockey School in Detroit Lakes, MN. I worked in the kitchen helping Donna cook and in the pro shop during the evenings. Upon squeezing my shoulders one day, Lyn realized she needed to share her trick to help me relax them.
The sequence I’m going to share with you will only take one minute and 12 seconds to complete and everyone has that amount of time to spare. You’ll need to find a comfortable chair and sit on the edge of it.
Lift, squeeze, and hold your shoulders up toward your ears for 3 seconds and then relax them for 3 seconds. Repeat 3 times.
Next, pull/press your shoulders toward the floor for 3 seconds and then relax them for 3 seconds. Repeat 3 times.
Squeeze your shoulder blades together and hold for 3 seconds then relax for 3 seconds. Repeat 3 times.
Last, but not least, try to bring your shoulders together creating space between your shoulder blades, and hold for 3 seconds. Repeat 3 times.
The key is to focus, squeeze as much as possible during that phase, and then really relax during that phase. Performing this sequence daily will greatly help reduce the tension you carry in your neck, shoulders, and back and will be especially beneficial if you spend time on the computer. Just seventy-two seconds to more relaxed muscles, aahhhh, enjoy.
