Exercise 17

Shoulder Drop

Lift the shoulders all the way up, then let go all at once. Learn what let go actually feels like.

How to do it

  1. 1

    Stand or sit tall. Breathe in and pull both shoulders up toward your ears as far as they go.

  2. 2

    Hold at the top for three seconds. Make it uncomfortable.

  3. 3

    Breathe out and let them fall. Do not lower them. Drop them.

  4. 4

    Notice where they land. That is lower than where they were sitting.

  5. 5

    Repeat five times, then leave them alone for a minute and see if they creep back up.

Use it when
Any time you catch your shoulders sitting high. At the desk, at a red light, in a queue.
Watch for
Lowering the shoulders slowly under control. That keeps the muscles working. The point is the sudden release, so let gravity do it.