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| Image by Nenad Stojkovid via Creative Commons |
From 2015 to 2023, I have been experiencing problems with my right shoulder. This gave me the opportunity to visit orthopedic surgeons who referred me to physical therapists. I thought my issue was overuse at the gym since I attend a mix of 10+ classes at week at my local YMCA (strength training, stretching, cardio).
No. The problem was poor posture, caused in part by tech neck. (I am right handed, the hand I use to hold a mouse and a cell phone.)
Note: I am not a professional fitness instructor. Nor am I a licensed medical professional. This post only invites people to increase their awareness of the benefits of movement. I am sharing my experience as friends might do while having lunch toether. I strongly suggest that readers hire a personal trainer or visit a physical therapist for quality help in proper positioning and movement.
I have been practicing yoga regularly since 2004; however, I still managed to have my neck jutting out too far and my shoulder blades slumped too far forward and apart. Physical therapy helped me see how to place my upper body in better position during the many classes that I attend.
I decided to change the mix of my fitness classes so that I was doing fewer intense cardio classes and doing more classes that allowed me to maintain nearly a constant focus on my posture, particularly of my "frame," as the ballroom dancers describe it.
Yoga. I attend yoga 2 to 4 times a week. Yes, I work on positioning my feet, knees, and hips; however, I have good muscle memory with the lower half of my body. I talk to myself almost the entire time about my shoulder blades and neck.
I also adapt some poses to focus on correcting my posture.
