Neck Deep: The Unsung Hero of Head-to-Toe Alignment

Poor neck. Always blamed, rarely thanked.

When alignment’s off elsewhere, the neck often compensates—head juts forward, shoulders rise, tension takes the wheel.

But the truth is, neck alignment is foundational to total-body balance.

Quick alignment check...

• Is your chin jutting forward like you're trying to kiss the horizon?

• Are your traps doing the heavy lifting your lats should handle?

• Can you breathe freely without straining your throat?

The neck houses your spinal cord, supports your brain, and plays a role in everything from posture to proprioception to jaw tension. It deserves better.

We all need to learn...

• Grow tall through the crown of the head.

• Let the jaw un-grip (seriously, unclench - easiest way to do this is say "Emma" which will automatically unclench your jaw and put it in the correct position).

• Use breath to release neck tension, not reinforce it.

When I was a massage therapist I think the most common complaint was neck issues - too tight, not strong enough, injured, wakes up aching... this list went on.

I think as humans, our posture is slowly declining and gaining very bad habits that leave our bodies distorted, cramped, in pain and uneven. Phone-neck is a good example of this. Many people almost permanently have their head bowed to look at their phone. Over time this will lead to a "dowagers hump" at the back of their shoulders along with tension through the chest and a lot of work for the neck.

Fixing our alignment isn't just about looking better, it's about future proofing our body's longevity!

When the neck is happy, the whole body feels a little lighter—and a whole lot more connected.