Untangle and decompress the highly overcharged upper back and shoulders with Yoga Tune Up®’s Reverse Crucifix pose featured in the video clip below. This pose takes care of stretching and releasing tension in not only the teres minor and deltoids, both…
Most of us have heard of the term rotator cuff before, but the truth is, there’s no actual cuff in any region of the shoulder. The “rotator cuff” is a group of four muscles that includes the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor…
Downward facing dog is one of the most commonly taught poses in yoga class, but is it a good idea for your shoulders? One key element is the need to successfully keep your shoulders in external rotation and also pronate the…
I recently sent a link to an article about yoga injuries to a long-term client that I was currently seeing for a shoulder injury. My client’s response was brief – that although the article was interesting, she did not associate her…
The upper trapezius elevates the shoulder while the lower trapezius depresses the shoulder, making them opposing muscle groups. However, they both also upwardly rotate the scapula, making them synergists too. (beyondbeaute.com) We do many things throughout the day that elevate…
The trapezius is a large diamond shaped muscle on your back that runs from the base of your skull, out to your shoulder, and down your thoracic spine. This muscle is easy to palpate as it is the most superficial of…
My husband’s shoulder started hurting him a few months ago. At first it would come and go. Then it started aching and burning at night, so much that he couldn’t sleep on his side. I suggested lots of exercises to help…
Intense contraction of the rhomboids is essential for strengthening and Long Head of the Triceps does just that. By bringing the shoulder blades into full retraction on the upper back (watch for this cue at 0.34 in the video clip below),…
My love for yoga began with a vinyasa class at a small studio in 2005. The fast paced rhythm and exercise provided an outlet for the athlete inside of me, and harmony of movement offered me tranquility and stress relief. It…
The pectoralis minor is an often problematic muscle that lies deep to its better known companion the pectoralis major. This lovely muscle originates at ribs 3,4, and 5 and inserts on the medial surface of the coracoid process of the scapula.…
