2 exercises to strengthen your neck and slim your chin

In yoga we often end up in poses that put strain on our neck, but our neck is one of the most neglected set of muscles in our body.

If your neck muscles are too weak, you can unexpectedly injure yourself in poses like plow, tripod, and shoulder stand. Use these following exercises to strengthen your neck before starting any yoga poses that might put strain on your neck.

Added bonus? These exercises help reduce the appearance of a double chin.

Chin Exercise 1:

1. Sit comfortably, shoulders relaxed.
2. Gently relax your head forwards (chin to chest).
3. Inhale, slowly move your chin over to your right shoulder. Exhale.
4. Inhale, and slowly move your chin from your right shoulder to your left shoulder. Exhale.
5. Repeat 5 times.

Chin Exercise 2:

1. Sit comfortably, shoulder’s relaxed, looking straight ahead.
2. Gently relax your head forwards (chin to chest).
3. Keeping your chin tucked to your chest, slowly move your chin to the right. When you’re as far right as you can go, lift your chin straight up, looking back over your right shoulder as far as you comfortably can. You should feel a stretch on the back left side of your neck.
4. Slowly bring your chin down and back to center.
5. Keeping your chin tucked to your chest, slowly move your chin to the left. When you’re as far right as you can go, lift your chin straight up, looking back over your right shoulder as far as you comfortably can. You should feel a stretch on the back left side of your neck.
6. Slowly bring your chin down and back to center.
7. Repeat 11 times.