Today's topic is fixing or preventing neck band and hole in the neck caused by overworking muscles such as Platysma and SCM. I will also discuss three bad habits that you should stop immediately as they can lead to neck issues.
1. Breathing with shoulders
The most important thing to prevent neck band and hole in the neck is breathing. Many of us tend to breathe using our chest and shoulders instead of air breathing, which can overwork the neck muscles. We breathe around 20,000 times a day, and each time we breathe incorrectly, the neck muscles become overworked, leading to neck problems. I've been consciously air breathing for over 10 years, and it's something you should do even when you're awake, not just when you're sleeping.
2. Hard swallow
When drinking, try to do a soft swallow instead of a hard swallow, as using too much neck and shoulder muscles can cause pain and aging. A smooth 1, 2, 3 motion is better than a robotic 1, 2, 3. Swallowing with the tip of your tongue in front of your teeth and pressing your palate slightly up will help. Using fewer muscles while drinking can prevent the need for expensive Botox treatments later on. Watch our How to Drink video for more tips. Remember, humans swallow around 600 times a day, so it's important to develop good habits.
3. Speaking
Let's discuss the most important vowel sound, the E sound. When we see ourselves and others speaking, we tend to use the E sound too often. It's not the best habit to have, especially if we want to sound professional. Even experienced broadcasters sometimes make this mistake. In my video about speaking, I discuss the AEIOU sounds, but for now, let's focus on the E sound. The E sound is often produced by the neck muscles, but it's better to use the nasal cavity instead. To avoid using the neck muscles, try saying E, E, E, E, E, instead of E, E, E, E, E, E, E. The difference in sound may be subtle, but it's worth the effort. Using the neck muscles too much when speaking can cause neckband and other problems, which can make us look older. Therefore, it's essential to watch our neck movements when we speak.
In summary, the video covered breathing, swallowing, and speaking exercises, with more available on their website and through their iPhone app. They also announced an upcoming livestream for instructor certification and the availability of their Koco Face Yoga method. Additionally, they mentioned their upcoming travel to Japan and plans for exciting yoga classes in Southern California