How To Do The Head Forward Stretch Video

The head forward stretch is great for relieving neck tension. Learn exercises and stretches for your workout routine in this fitness video.

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Can be done sitting or standing
Drop chin to chest
Relieves tension in upper back

About this Author

Amy McCauley has been a certified personal fitness trainer since 1995. She specializes in pilates, combat cardio, core conditioning and overall strength training. She works with clients ranging in age from 16 - 69. She has worked at Gold's Gym in Wilmington, NC since 2006. She loves her job because it gives her the opportunity to change peoples' lives in a positive way.

AMY MCCAULEY: Hi. I'm going to demonstrate how to do the head forward stretch. Sitting on a chair or standing, whatever you prefer, relax the hands, take them to the back of the head, try not to lock the fingertips. You're going to bring the elbows in just a little bit. Dropping the chin to the chest, stretching the neck, release, bring it back up to center. You can either do an active motion where you're coming down, holding one, two, and coming back up or you can hold it between 5 and 30 seconds. If you do, just slightly do the hold, the chin is close to the collarbone, the neck is going to begin to release. You're going to feel the shoulder blades separate like of any tension across the upper portion of your back, elbows down by angling down towards the floor. Take a nice deep breath in and come up. We're going to repeat two to three times. Try not to put too much pressure on your hands, drop the chin, round up the spine, and then come back up. So, key points to remember about this one: Fingertips are loose, elbows come in just a little bit, we're going to round up our shoulders, chin to chest, you're going to force the C-curve in your spine, hollow at the stomach, hold it, counting 5 to 30 seconds, and then release, and this is how we do the forward neck stretch.

How to Do the Head Forward Stretch Video

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