One of the most common complaints I hear from people who work in an office is tight shoulders. There are so many ways you can get chronic tight shoulders, but one of the most typical ways is stress. Stress results from holding tension in your shoulders. Other common ways to get chronic tight shoulders are driving or being at a computer, situations in which your shoulders are up for long periods of time. Sleeping on your side with a thin pillow can also cause chronic tension in your shoulders. Holding a purse or backpack on one side or the other can be the source for tight shoulders.

Today I want to show you a technique that I personally use when I am in the office. This technique is used to get a deeper stretch that helps relax shoulders. It also only takes about five seconds!

1. Take your hand and put it underneath the chair to hold on. You want to contract your shoulder and shrug it towards your ear. Do this for five seconds. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Then relax.

2. As you relax, bring your head down towards your shoulder and turn it towards your opposite hip. Then, shrug your head again for five seconds (keeping your head towards your shoulder and your opposite hip). 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Then relax.

3. Next, do the same thing but turn your head a little further towards your opposite hip to get a deeper stretch. Do this three times on each shoulder.

This stretch will help relax your shoulders so you can get on with the rest of your day! Go ahead and try it out for yourself!