January 22nd, 2010 by Reeta Luthra
Although stress and tension are invisible energy, their impact is quite physical.
The neck and shoulders tend to be areas where stress and tension like to go and sit.
This very simple exercise is based on the ancient Tibetan art of Kum Nye and is very effective in relieving the tension that’s accumulated in your neck, shoulders, back and even your head.
It takes just two minutes to do and I’ve personally seen it work very quickly and effectively on people who have suffered from severe neck pain for years.
Some of the things that this exercise helps to relieve:
Although this exercise is more of a position than a work-out, please speak to your doctor if you are unsure that it’s suitable for you. Stop immediately if you feel any pain or discomfort.
Location
Find a quiet time where you will not be disturbed for a couple of minutes (that’s all it takes). Preferably in the morning as soon after waking as possible, after you’ve had a glass of water to make sure you are hydrated.
It’s not recommended to do this last thing at night because it can excite your energy levels too much for sleep.
Posture
Traditionally, you do this exercise sitting cross-legged on the floor with a long, straight back. However, I find that for the purposes of relieving aches and pains, you can also do it sitting on a hard chair with your feet flat on the floor.
Try to do it sitting cross-legged on the floor, but if you can’t manage that, a chair will be fine.
Breathing
Close your eyes and spend a few seconds regulating your breathing. Breathe evenly with a comfortable level of “deepness”. Breathe from your lower abdomen to oxygenate your cells. When you’ve got a good rhythm going, you can move into the position.
The Position
If you can’t manage two minutes, that’s fine. You can build up to this over a number of days. It’s not recommended that you do this for longer than two minutes however.
You will need to do this exercise daily over a period of days to feel the benefits.
For proper positioning, posture and diagrams, consider purchasing Stephanie Wright’s Kum Nye: Waking Up for Beginners where you can find her original version of this exercise. The book seems to be unavailable at Amazon at moment but keep an eye out for it elsewhere as it’s a great resource.
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