Aching, nagging shoulder tension??
Shoulder tension has been a common area of focus in my massage practice in recent weeks. Combine the cold with the mental-emotional stress of a busy schedule or hours spent hunched over a computer, and you’ve got a recipe for shoulder tension that thinks it's too legit to quit!
Sound Familiar?
- "I feel like I'm carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders."
- "My shoulders feel so tight, achy, and sore."
- "I just can't get this shoulder tension to release."
I hear you.
How to Manage It At Home
Cultivate softness with my go-to self-massage practice using my favorite self-massage tools - dryer balls.
Why dryer balls? Because they're soft.
Ayurveda teaches us that 'like increases like, and opposites balance.' If you're feeling hard, rough, rigid tension in your shoulders, applying softness can help restore balance and ease.
Settling Into Softness
When we think about nagging shoulder tension, we often think we need deep pressure or force to effectively release it. But sometimes, it's the opposite. Softness creates space for the body to yield, to settle and soften instead of bracing against the hard force of a lacrosse or tennis ball.
As the Chinese Daoist Philosopher Laozi said:
"Water is the softest thing, yet it can penetrate mountains and earth. This shows clearly the principle of softness overcoming hardness."
Putting It Into Practice:
Tee up the video below and roll out your mat - preferably in front of a warm fireplace with a 4-legged friend for company! This practice is simple, gentle, and surprisingly effective. Give it a try and let me know how it goes!
What You'll need:
- Yoga mat
- Blanket for warmth
- Extra folded towel or blanket (for added comfort and support)
- 2 Dryer balls (or rolled-up socks if you don't have dryer balls)
Stay warm, and I’ll see you next time!
Deanna McDevitt
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