Since 2011, Dylan has been teaching yoga. Though a lover of movement, handstands, arm balances and creative sequencing, his focus is the integration of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence to create a space to deepen the inner connection.

In 2015, Dylan gave up his home in California to travel and teach yoga. He has taught in over 60 countries and more than 400 workshops or events. He is passionate about spreading his love for yoga and helping others in their journey by sharing his journey.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Dylan Werner (@dylanwerneryoga)

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Dylan Werner (@dylanwerneryoga)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dylan Werner (@dylanwerneryoga)

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Dylan Werner (@dylanwerneryoga)

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Dylan Werner (@dylanwerneryoga)

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Dylan Werner (@dylanwerneryoga)

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Dylan Werner (@dylanwerneryoga)

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Dylan Werner (@dylanwerneryoga)

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Dylan Werner (@dylanwerneryoga)

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Dylan Werner (@dylanwerneryoga)

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How Can You Avoid Hurting Yourself?

Stretching your upper back is supposed to relieve pain and tension, but if you aren’t doing the stretches correctly, it can cause even more pain. How do you stretch those muscles in your upper back without hurting yourself? Here are some of the best things to do.

Maintain the Proper Position

Having the correct positioning during a stretch makes a big difference. You’ll want to learn how to position yourself so the stretches can be both safe and effective. This a big reason why assisted stretching is great for beginners.

Breathing is one way to help your body relax so you can maintain the proper placement.

Do the Right Stretch

Doing the wrong stretch at the wrong time can do more harm than good. Typically, you’ll want to perform dynamic stretches before any physical activity and static stretches after.

Dynamic stretching moves the muscles through the whole range of motion and mimics the movements you will do during the workout. It’s supposed to warm up and stretch the muscles and joints. Static stretching involves elongating your muscles at their furthest range of motion and holding the position. It’s supposed to help relieve muscle fatigue and speed up recovery.

Don’t Hold the Stretch for Too Long

Did you know that holding a static stretch for too long can make you feel stiffer? You could also risk overstretching and putting yourself at a greater risk of injury. You want to hold a stretch long enough to lengthen your tissue and muscle fibers but not short enough that it becomes ineffective. Thirty seconds up to 2 minutes is usually a good amount of time and you can increase as you progress.

Avoid Rolling Your Neck Backward

Neck rolls are great for loosening up the muscles in your neck, shoulders, and upper back. However, it’s good practice not to roll your neck backward, as it can pinch blood vessels and nerves. Hyperextending your neck in this position can also increase pressure on your cervical discs, increasing the natural cervical spine degeneration process. So remember when doing this, possibly as part of a pose o r stretch to do it slowly and be conscious of the movement.

Stop if You Feel Pain

Slight pressure during a stretch is normal; feeling a sharp pain is not. You don’t want to push yourself past your limits while stretching, or else you could risk injuring yourself.

If your back always hurts after stretching, it could be because of a problem with nerve restriction in your spine. Stretching will cause more pain if that’s the case, so it’s good to check in with your doctor if this is happening to you.

Best Upper Back Stretches

Is it hard to function because of upper back pain? There are some great stretches out there that target those upper back muscles! Talk to your stretching practitioner or yoga instructor about learning these upper back moves so you can start feeling better.

Egyptian Back Stretch

This move might be a bit difficult for those who lack flexibility in their upper body. The Egyptian back stretch is great for stretching the upper back muscles. It may seem like a tangled mess at first, so it’s wise to perform this stretch under the supervision of a professional to ensure you’re doing it right.

Standing tall with your back straight, you should place your left arm vertically in front of your face with your pinky facing out. Next, your right arm will go under your left elbow. Your stretch practitioner will help raise your arms as high as you’re comfortable with, and you’ll feel the muscles between your shoulders stretch.

Doorway Stretch

A simpler stretch that targets your upper back is the doorway stretch, or a pectoral stretch. Proper positioning is important for this one so you can target the upper back and pectoral muscles. To perform this stretch, you’ll need to step into a doorway with your forearm placed against the doorframe. Your arm should form a 90-degree angle. Your stretch practitioner will guide you in leaning your body forward slightly until you feel a stretch in your chest and shoulders.

Overhead Arm Reach

The overhead arm reach targets not only your upper back but also stretches the shoulders and sides. You can perform this move either sitting or standing. You’ll have to extend one arm above your head and reach to the opposite direction. A stretch practitioner will assist you in bending your torso until you feel the stretch in the latissimus dorsi or your back and your shoulder.

Scapular Squeeze

The scapular squeeze, or shoulder blade squeeze, focuses on the rhomboids. Those are the central muscles in your upper back responsible for maintaining good posture and connecting the shoulder blades to the rib cage and spine. Your arms should be down by your sides, and you’re going to squeeze your shoulder blades together. If this is a new move for you, start by doing it under the supervision of a stretching professional, so they can ensure you’re doing it correctly.

Other Ways to Prevent Upper Back Pain

You can do more than just stretch to prevent upper back pain. It’s all about having a healthy lifestyle! Follow these tips to keep your back pain-free and healthy.

• Lift properly
• Eat well
• Regularly exercise
• Practice good posture
• Maintain a good weight
• Stop smoking
• Sleep on your back or side

Want to Learn How to Stretch Upper Back Muscles?

Now that you’ve learned the best tips on how to stretch upper back muscles and prevent pain, it’s time to put your knowledge to good use! Aching backs are never fun, but proper stretching and taking care of yourself will combat stiffness and tightness once and for all.

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In any case, it is time for you to pay some attention to your spine. With some simple measures and minor lifestyle changes, you can make your spine healthy and happy. 

Here are some measures that will contribute to your spine health:

Include exercise in your lifestyle 

Exercising is a major part of any rehabilitation program. Whether it’s a back injury or you want to strengthen your core muscles, making exercise a part of your lifestyle should be the first step. Doing exercises that target your core muscles will enhance the stability and flexibility of your spine and cut down the chances of future injuries and pain. 

According to a leading spine specialist in Spokane, a simple workout program involving abdominal muscles, hamstrings, and the back helps in reducing inflammation and pacing up the healing process, facilitates the proper distribution of nutrients into your soft tissues and spinal disc, and keeps your muscles, joints, and ligaments healthy. Before taking up an exercise program, consult an expert to chalk out the perfect program for you. 

Even a simple exercise like walking goes a long way in restoring the health of your spine. Walking strengthens the core muscles, supplies nutrients to your soft tissues, enhances the flexibility of the spine, strengthens your bone structure, and improves your balance. Just remember to ensure the correct posture while doing it.

Give proper rest to your spine 

Ensure that your spine also gets proper rest while you sleep. Use a firm or medium-firm mattress that offers optimum support to your spine. Do not sleep on a soft or old mattress that lets your spine sag. 

Also, use a comfortable pillow. If you tend to sleep on your back, keep a pillow below your knees. It will keep your lower back relaxed. Whereas, a side sleeper should sleep with a cushion between his knees. It will keep your hip balanced. To offer some support to your cervical spine, use a neck pillow. 

Meditate regularly and stretch

According to some studies, regular meditation helps in relieving chronic back pain. Take out at least 15 minutes regularly to meditate in a comfortable cross legged seated position. 

Either sit in a quiet room or go for walks in a garden or on a beach; select any form of meditation to aid your spinal health.

Also include some sort of yoga or stretching into your daily routine. Even 5-10 minutes of basic stretching will go a long way!

Pay attention to your posture 

Your spine is naturally curved. While sitting, your posture should correspond to the arches to offer optimum support to your spine. If your sitting posture contradicts the natural curve, your spinal nerves can bear the brunt of it. 

Also, sitting enhances the load on the spinal discs, which makes them liable to pain or they herniate over time, and this leads to compression or inflammation of the spinal nerve. 

To avoid this, sit in an upright position. If you have long working hours, sit on an ergonomic chair and adjust the height of your desk. Also, take a break after every 45 minutes or one hour, and walk around in your room. 

Eat healthy 

You may not know it, but your diet also affects the health of your spine amongst many other things. Include food items such as fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, whole grains and good fats into your diet. 

Indulge in massage therapy 

Massage therapy is a time-tested treatment for back pain. It boosts the blood circulation to your muscles treating soreness, restores the spinal range of motion, enhances the release of feel-good hormones, and treats insomnia. 

The bottom line 

Embracing some minor and essential lifestyle changes especially while working from home can take you a long way in maintaining the health of your spine. Adopt these measures and say goodbye to back problems. 

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Spinal Flexibility Routine – Forward Bending

In this routine, Keira demonstrates some essential forward bending exercises to get your full spine comfortable with these movements. 

Spinal Flexibility – Back bending and Bridge Routine

In this routine, Keira demonstrates how to work up to a full bridge pose, starting with some basic spinal extension exercises.

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