How to look up without compromising the neck

September 22, 2020 - 8:09pm | 2 posts

Elizabeth C

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22 hours 27 min ago

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07/06/2020 - 3:00pm

How to look up without compromising the neck

You teach to keep the back of the neck straight and to tilt the chin downward. And to keep this during hip hinging. This feels good.

However, what do we do when we need to look up at the sky while standing, or when bending/hinging, look at something in front of us?

Could you provide a photo of the right and wrong way to do this?

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September 23, 2020 - 3:45pm | 1 post

Rachel Margaret

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08/26/2018 - 4:08am

Hi LK,

The two things to think about to be able to keep the back of your neck straight and tall while looking up are:

using your eyes to look up (or in any direction) instead of bending your neck
pivoting your skull on the atlas (the topmost vertebra) while keeping your neck straight

See Esther's comments here.

The man on the left in the top photo is demonstrating both looking up with his eyes and pivoting his head on a straight neck, a continuation of his beautiful j-spine.

I hope that helps.

Rachel, Gokhale Method teacher