tense neck

My passion for researching posture has taken me far and wide. I was in a village in Burkina Faso in western Africa when I first noticed how people there would track the conversation from speaker to speaker mainly by using their eyes, rather than by turning their heads. Along with their excellent body posture it contributed to a strikingly well-centered, dignified bearing.

This young man in Burkina Faso demonstrates the dignified bearing that comes with an appropriate amount of eye tracking.

Comparing what I saw in Burkina Faso with what I was used to seeing back home, I realized that in the US, and the wider industrialized world, we move our eyes a good deal less and our necks a good deal more

My first day back at work was very difficult. Trying to not fall into old ways of using my body at my work station - trying to incorporate the new knowledge learned. The muscles in my neck got very stiff from trying too hard. ANd when I tried to not-try I got all confused - I didn't know how to just relax. So I went for a short walk - working in an urban park is very wonderful. The process of walking (I just did squeeze walking so that I didn't have to think too much) was very beneficial and allowed my neck to relax.

I plan to continue to take short breaks away from my workstation and walk since that is a relaxing thing to do.

I know that it is a process and that I will eventually get there.

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