Liberating Your Neck and Jaw - 6 - Long Neck from Outside and In

Henry demonstrates a relaxed tongue, soft neck, totally adorable. Source: Rob French

Liberating Your Neck and Jaw - 6 - Long Neck

Fingertips to Tip of Tongue Relaxation Techniques

Prepare for this one by washing hands and maybe having lip balm nearby

If you think of the tongue as the outmost extension of the spine, then it makes sense that an extending and moving tongue extends and loosens the spine. That’s what I get from this lesson.

This series has gradually and systematically been working to connect our necks and jaws body-wide. We began as far away as possible, with the feet driving the head to rock, or nod, up and down. After practicing gliding the jaw, the ribs, shoulders and spine came into the picture., all the while finding the organic relationship between the eyes, jaw, and neck.

Last week, the tongue was the “tool” for releasing facial and jaw tension.

This lesson again employs the tongue to loosen - the neck.

Muscles around the Eye
source: https://www.slideshare.net_Dr.JacobAbraham_muscles-of-facial-expression

image source: Cloemag.com

Our lesson opens with a tender self facial massage. Let your fingertips be as soft as you would want them to be. This massage includes a gentle release of the round muscles of the lips - you might want to wash your hands just before class to enjoy this part.

From here, the tongue takes over quietly stretching over the lips as the nervous system (re)connects the tongue’s root to your eyes, neck, breath and eventually the whole body. There are half circles, whole circles, upward circles and down. We’ll also review proper “tongue posture.”

Going slow and slower is the key to this exploration. You think it should be easy to do this without tension. Remember, if you start trying too hard, you’re missing the point.

No science nerd candy, as we have already looked at the abs/spine connections, jaw anatomy and physiology, spinal anatomy and physiology, cervical vertebrae, and the relationship between the position of the tongue and whole body movement.

How You Might Feel After This Lesson: Amazed at the tongue; Tongue connections to neck, throat, and entire spine; Deeply relaxed; Soft Face (I’m ready for my close up, Mr. DeMille); Tall, elegantly postured; Able to do interesting new tricks with your tongue. ; )