Amazing! After a year of stretching and attempting to strengthen areas resulting in even more pain I have come across your page and I feel a new lease of life. I can not thank you enough!
I found this vid one month ago but could not do it because of a frozen shoulder. After practising with his frozen shoulder vids. I could now do this exercise. All his vids are great and safe.
Yes Taro as you rightly said practicing how to keep your posture as taught in lessons will help one more. Thanks a lot. I had headache and it is no more now.
Thing is I’ve seen people try to just fix how their posture is standing up straight shoulders back so on and after like intensely trying one guy online reported zero change after a year. So if this approach does work either he’s not doing it right or this is approaching it in a different way training wise in terms of fixing the already messed up posture vs maintaining good posture.
@@TaroIwamoto , hi Taro! Yes! I’m 71, had poor posture all of my life and severe back pain for the past three months. I have been trying to do your exercises every day. My physio likes what you teach, and his strengthening exercises complement what I’m feeling about my body through your lessons. My back pain is finally going away! Now, I’m working on my shoulder pain! Thanks for all your lessons! Denise
Rarely do I find an exercise that helps relieve my neck tension that leads into a headache.Most often I end up resorting to pain medication. Well, this exercise in a a few short minutes provided so much relief and saved me from popping a pill. If in one session I found so much benefit I am excited to see what will happen if I practice it regularly. Thank you so much!
Thank you so much! My friend introduced me to your video's last night and I want to say It's helped me become aware of my body and movements..Blessings to you always
My goodness, everytime I push my chest out while holding my head, I get a pop in the top of my neck. Feels so good when I finish reps. Thank you good Sir👍
Oh I think I just struck gold with this video! Thanks so much. I constantly get migraines a lot almost daily sometimes and I think it has a lot to do with me forward should/head/hunchback posture (started during childhood). I did just ask in another video about how to sit correctly in the car while driving so hopefully maybe one of these days you can demonstrate this for us viewer's! That would be so awesome and I'd be ever so grateful! Thank you and God bless 🙏❤
Super helpful. You have the absolutely best stuff on RU-vid what I have find on bettering the quality of body-life. People (masses of people) don't get it, and find it because they will more likely consume some easier to digest visual-stimulation guidelines - but the material benieth the fancy and visually stimulating video might be corrupt by the basic movement mechanics. These videos of your's are a real treasures for people, who are smart enought to learn from right kind of source! ❤
Great! Now next step is to practice carrying this movement pattern over to daily activities so you can have this sensation everyday. Wouldnt that sound nice?
Thanks bro, I’ve been working on my body for a while and figuring all these things out. Seeing you explain these things validate my findings and re teaching my theories logically
This is amazing. Thank you for sharing!You’re the Best teacher I found. Stretching thoracic was my missing part in avoiding headaches. appreciate your knowledge and wisdom.
excellent!! thanks mate! this has really worked wonders.. only discovered your channel few days ago but have already watched several and can feel the difference already.. subscribed 👍🏽
Hi Taro! Thank you so much for sharing such important knowledge! I very much appreciate you for the passion, labor and patience you put into explaining in detail. Big hug ‘n much luv dear!
I think this will prevent the need from having to get my neck adjusted at my chiropractor. Recently his neck adjustments have been causing me headaches.
Taro, I found your channel a few days ago and your videos are amazing. This might sound a bit strange but could you do one for the face and especially eye muscles? Thank you for your work. The videos and exercises I have done so far have been really helpful.
Thank you! A video on jaw is actually coming next week! I got a few requests for a video on eyes, vision, so I will do a video on that topic in the future as well.
I have difficulty to move my head downward after wake up form sleep due to stiffness on the back of my neck. I tried this and after few minutes feel somewhat warm feeling on my upper back and and I can move my head down more easier. It works wonderfully. Thanks
I'm so grateful to have found your videos Taro. These exercises are gentle and you explain it very well. I have chronic neck and shoulder pain and am finding relief already practicing these movements! 🙏
Thank you for your response to my question, yes it did help but I think I can conclude that if my sitting posture is corrected. It will reduce the ache and strain I feel in my chest.
@@TaroIwamoto I take a lot of rizatripten disolving pills , for migraine, but the headaches are as you described. Hope this helps. Thank you so much. Got botox a month ago
After a few times, I felt just a small stab of pain in the left side of my neck but it immediately released with a popping sound and my neck feels so much better. Thank you! I'm so grateful for these wonderful techniques.
please move gently and mindfully. this is more about retraining your movement patterns and recognizing how you habitually shorten your upper cervical spine and how you can reorganize your posture to lengtgen upper cervical. But I am glad you feel better.
Hello, thank you so much for your fantastic videos! Could you maybe show some exercises against throat tension - for a relaxed larynx for speaking/singing? Thank you so much :)
Aiming the chest is the biggest improvement I have learned over the last few years. As you've said in other videos, pushing the head and shoulder back without this realignment, just adds fuel to the flame. Thank you for this information! It has certainly helped me, and I hope that others come to understand through your channel. Keep up the good work.
What movements help balance out the head and neck downward posture when doing a lot of activities requiring you to look down, like doing dishes, chopping veggies, doing schoolwork with kids and interacting with kids whilst looking down at them from above?
very good question. I usually play with two strategies. One: utilize hip movements to initiate bending to keep my spine in more neutral while looking down. Two: distribute movement evenly by rounding the entire spine like doing cat pose of Yoga, which can reduce the amount of work neck has to do.
Great stuff, I will be doing this routinely for the next 30 days. I have chronic neck and shoulder pain. I do have some injuries, including herniations in the neck and L4 and S1. I have a good concept of fitness but am a retired combatant in military and law enforcement and a martial arts junkie. I am in training at 51 in Judo/BJJ and an instructor and training r nearly 30 years in Wing Chun Kung. I'll provide feedback.
A couple of your videos have really helped me and I intend to spend more time with them, but I have a question about reading. What is the best position for holding the book comfortably? I have a lot of neck and shoulder tension that I'm getting relief for from your videos, but reading books is a large part of my day and I'm just not sure how to sit while I do it.
you're welcome. can't say for sure if it will help with light dizziness, but learning to stack your head over the spine can help stabilize your cervical spine.
I really enjoy your videos! I actually stand to work and it doesn't seem to relieve my neck/head/shoulder problems. Would be nice to see something that addresses neutral spine when standing to work.
Thank for this great info! Can you a,so please show good neck exercises? Especially to get horizontal ring wrinkles around the neck and the second chin?
this is actually a great neck exercise that retrains your movement. A key retraining is to lengthen your spine, which is what this exercise is about. You may also find some of my videos under Improve Posture Playlist beneficial.
Hi! I love your videos. What does it mean: while doing this exercise i feel pain between my shoulder blades. Only when i round my back it stops but then my head starts hurting. What do I do? Does the back pain stops after a while?
my guess is that your mid back (thoracic spine) is not really used to extending, so habitually used to rounding/flexing. This exension through mid back is quite new to you, and that's probably what you're feeling. My suggestion is to gradually retrain your body and movement pattern towards this direction. As your body becomes more used to this new movement pattern, it won't be as uncomfortable.
Thank you. Crazy. U wont know the story i had wv chronic 4head tension, but u gave a key recipe to ease this. Thank you... Is there anything i can do, for throat gripping? Very chronic and honestly its been a long term issue... *Just to add, i notice, that the chronic tension can be so reinserting... Often, i dont do anything to relieve it i practice these micro movements as a practice at a set time... suggestions?
Most appreciated Mr Iwamoto: I suggest to place the fingertips on the occipital bone. On the upper insertion of the trapezius muscle (superior nuchal line) (en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuchal_lines). Mechanically, seems to be more advantageous. But each body ist different... Thanks for your inspiring videos. 🤗
I felt this in my middle back more than my neck. Stretch felt good but I think I felt it in the wrong place. How would you stretch the subocciptal muscles specifically the side ones behind the ears?
This actually lengthens upper cervical spine, meaning it will lengthen suboccipitals if you can properly differentiate cervical spine from thoracic spine. People often struggle to diffentiate those two parts so when they extend thoracic they also extend cervical spine, resulting on shortening upper cervical and suboccipital. I would try this movement much more slowly and pay closer attention to those two parts. If you can do this differentiated movement, you should feel more length in upper cervical.
thank you for asking this question, and thank you for answering it; I was experiencing the same thing (but thought that was what should happen), now I'm aware of both movements and can target each.
I also need to add that this is rather movement retraining than stretching. You are retraining your movement patterns so you can prevent your upper cervical spine from shortening.
Feels good, for me I feel the most in the middle upper back when I do it. I suffer from back pain for a long time already and some days a month, my back pain transfers to neck and head which is really disgusting as it feels like my head is pumping. When I lay down it even gets worse. I think I have really big problems with my pelvis, I can barely sit 2 minutes with a neutral pelvis position.... Having MRI tomorrow, I hope I get some clarification as it really sucks if you don't really know how or what to train...
Thank you! I am a restless sleeper. As a bonus, I get headaches through the night . Tension type. Tried every pillow there is . Can you suggest a cure ?
i am not able to suggest a cure, but I suggest you try my 15 minute breath awareness lesson when you sleep. you can find it under my Imptove breathing playlist.
Visual stabilization, eyes, head, torso coordination are important. Organization of eye movement is important. I dont have any videos that specifically focus on eyes, but I will do a few videos around that topic in the future.
that likely means that you habitually move a lot from your lower back but move very little through your thoracic spine, so in an effort to lengthen your spine you put too much effort in your lower back, which is a very common pattern.
It would be good to explain that when people start correct my posture they probably going to feel pain in many areas from the top of their head down to the lower back. Ask me how I know!
Hi Taro, do you have suggestion movement or advice for cervical vertigo? I am currently doing clinical somatics, though I feel immense release in chronically tight muscles, somehow I suspect releae of muscles in lower back/neck has triggered the vertigo?
Muscle tension often develops in response to something, and is often a sign that the nervous system is trying to protect the body. When you remove the protection without reorganizing the body and movement patterns, you can become more unstable, which might be what you have experienced. This is one reason why I am not a big fan of stretching, massaging, or relaxation techniques without movement retraining. Habitual holding patterns are there as compensation. Although those holding patterns are not ideal and not efficient, at least they provide some protection. So, if you attempt to remove them, you'll need to provide new organization to provide stability, balance through movement retraining. This is just my opinion though.
Thank you so much for your reply, so to make sure I understand, Feldenkrais and somatics is not similar? Is there any movements you can suggest from your channel for me to try?
@@asisthya somatics is a broad term. Feldenkrais Method is considered a type of somatics practice. My posture videos and lower back videos might be helpful for you.
@@TaroIwamoto I see, I have been doing clinical somatics for the past two months. Really appreciate your help and taking the time to reply, thank you so much🙏🏼❤️
@@TaroIwamoto I see, I have been doing clinical somatics based on movements by Thomas Hanna for thr past two months. Really appreciate your help and taking the time to reply. Thank you so much🙏🏼❤️.
You really shouldnt feel much stretch on front of hips unless you are arching your back. think about lengthening the spine, distance between the top of neck and tailbone
if i had a lot of problems in the neck and low back (herniated disc) how many months until i recover more than 90 % with a specific daily routine, and thanks
that depends on your criteria for recovery. Many have herniated discs but no functional changes. Some with very minor disc herniation with significant decrease in their functions. It also depends on acuteness of injury. If we are talking about chronic condition, then functional improvements are more helpful measurement. In which case people can improve conditions with proper progressive training. It also depends on your prior level of functions.
I'm 34 male I was moving 2 months ago and thought that I pulled a muscle in the sacrum area it hurt pretty bad but it lasted forever which means it's not my muscle it's the bones. I went to a chiropractor he did some work on me and at first it didn't work but then he cracked my lower back and it relieved my pain but I still feel this feeling that there is slight pain there. What else can I do to try to correct this. Thanks
One change in any part of our system influences everything else. The body immediately starts to compensate for even tiny change. Thus, it only makes sense to improve entire movement patterns and its relationship with the other parts for real imorovements, that is always my perspective for movement retraining. By the way, my sciatica,SI joint pain relief exercise series might be helpful. They are under Improve Pelvic Alignment Playlist.
Is there anything I can do reg migraines? I do appreciate that they can be related to both brain chemistry and hormonal status as opposed to tension headaches. But it doesn't hurt to ask.
@@TaroIwamoto thank you will have a look. Very impressed w your vids. My concrete neck is no more. I will tell everyone about your vids, the world needs this. Most underrated RU-vid channel ever!
I’ve been suffering from sharp pains throughout my neck and back sometimes even resulting in tingling and numbness throughout my arms and legs, I tried to do this retraining exercise but to me it felt like I was arching my lower back no matter how straight it looked in the mirror, any tips on how to work on that ?
if you're struggling to keep your lower back from arching as you're lengthening the entire spine, try pressing feet into the ground lightly. Pressing feet will counteract lumbar extension.
@@TaroIwamoto thank you so much!! Can you recommend other retraining exercises that might help me with the pinched nerve sensation I’ve been getting in my neck ?
that's a good point! However repetitions with a sense of curiosity can be very helpful for neuroplasticity as kids repeat something they find enjoyable and pleasurable which leads to learning.
@@TaroIwamoto if one is counting reps, then one isn't feeling or sensing his body but ticking off numbers imo. Moshe said it best. They're lessons not exercises. Children know how to count to ten or twenty already but don't know how to sense the wonderous and miraculous effects of the feldenkrais method.
@@feldenkrais8404 because i enjoy sharing ideas with others, i would like to continue. Kids for sure know how to connect with their body, or they would not have learned to run, throw a ball, ride a bicycle, swim, etc. Not consciously but they have to sensing their body while acquiring any new motor skills. They are often driven by curiosity and pure joy so they end up repeating, and repetitions reinforce learning as no skills can be acquired without repetitions. But i think it is possible to keep track of repetitions while exploring movement with a sense of curiosity if necessary, but that really depends on what you are trying to get out of movement practice. As Moshe said “If you know what you are doing, you can do what you want"
two possibilities i can think of. one, you were possibly overextending your mid back. two, you are not used to move through middle back into that direction, which is not a bad thing.
really like your videos, but you always say ..."learn how to train your body safely and ineffectively... that confuses me. i am just understanding this wrong?
I am actually saying "safely and then effectively" but my pronunciation is not clear enough. My apology. I am learning to improve my English everyday. I will be better next month than this month, better next year than this year. thats my goal anyway. Thanks for watching my videos!
@@TaroIwamoto ah, thank you. I am not a native speaker either. And the words on the screen (cc) say 'ineffectivel', too. Glad its not what you actually say! Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I just got rid of my headache using your tips! greetings from Germany.
