How to raise your arms over your head while keeping your shoulders safe - in yoga!

Seems like a no brainer right? It’s actually quite a complicated movement that most people don’t do often. Through repetitive incorrect movement it can cause strain and potentially exacerbate existing issues with the shoulders, instead of promoting healing, strength and flexibility like we would want to happen while practicing yoga

I made this video for people who experience pain in their shoulders

(for example a pinching pain in the top of the shoulder between the collar bone and top of your arm bone (between the clavicle, acromion and humerus for you anatomy lovers!!).

Try to keep the shoulders relaxed, your neck long,

and raise your arms over your head by engaging the muscles of your sides (by your ribs) and upper middle back under your shoulder blades. It’s important to keep your arms turned slightly out the whole time (external rotation of shoulders and abduction of arms!)

Watch the video for full explanation of shoulder movement for raising your arms over your head, with all the demos you need. This is for self exploration and understanding your own shoulder mobility so keep in mind what I’m saying isn’t a ‘rule’ - it’s for you to learn about yourself and to learn what works for YOU and what may not! I hope this helps, let me know how you go!

Please remember that there isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ in yoga - if you find anything painful in a yoga pose - please come out of it!