Feel your best for the holidays with these 5 stretches

Note: The advice in this blog is not intended to replace the advice of your clinician. If you are unsure, please speak to your clinician before attempting any of the suggestions below.

The holiday season piles a lot onto our plates—and on our bodies. Between carrying shopping bags, decorating the house, wrapping gifts, hosting gatherings, and hauling winter gear, it’s easy to end the day with tight shoulders and a stiff neck. Add in cold-weather tasks like brushing snow off the car or clearing the walkway, and those muscles can feel overworked fast.

Instead of pushing through the discomfort, a few minutes of gentle movement can help you reset. These stretches are simple, effective ways to ease that holiday-season tension so you can feel your best through all the celebration and winter chores.

What can you do at home? 

You don’t have to limit your treatment to an appointment with a massage therapist. There are many stretches and activities you can do at home, or the office, that may keep you feeling mobile and limit pain.

Here are some easy neck and shoulder stretches that you can do at home that may help prevent discomfort:

Holds for the following stretches are recommended for 30-60 seconds.

Hold on to the edge of your chair seat with one hand and bend your neck to the opposite side until you feel a gentle stretch. Repeat on the other side. 

Gently bend your head forward to feel a nice stretch in the lower back part of your neck.

Hold on to the edge of your chair seat with one hand and tilt your head back to the opposite side until you feel a stretch. Repeat on the other side. 

Pull your shoulders down toward the floor and then gently bend your neck back until you feel a stretch in the front of your neck area.

Hold your chair with your right hand. Turn your head slightly to the left. With your left hand, push the back of your head down (gently) and to the left. This should create a nice stretch on your right side in your shoulders.

Another great home care tip is to use a tennis ball to get those achy upper back and neck tender points. Simply place a tennis ball in the marked spots and apply pressure for 30 seconds. Follow that with heat for 20 minutes and you may feel relief.

If you're still looking for some more professional massage help, book a massage therapy session at a Lifemark clinic near you.