For those suffering with chronic neck pain, yoga poses for neck pain can provide relief. The more often you practice these poses, the more your body will relax and release the tension causes your aching neck.
Tension and Neck Pain

The following poses are selected for treating tension-related or stress-related neck pain. If your body has suffered some trauma, such as a fall or a car accident, please stick with your health provider and physical therapist for treatment of all symptoms, including potential neck pain.

If you have a stressful job and/or a stressful personal life, the human body has a tendency to 'lock up'. Muscles tighten, preventing free movement. Generally speaking, the tighter your muscles, the more likely you are to suffer an injury during a minor fall. In addition, having permanently tightened muscles in the upper back, shoulders, and neck, can cause neck pain and tension headaches. Some yoga poses can help relieve this tension, which in turn will relieve the neck pain.

Yoga Poses for Neck Pain

The following are specific yoga poses to relieve tension in the upper back and neck area. Please consult your physician in cases of extreme pain or longlasting pain. Neck pain can be symptomatic of serious health problems, which yoga poses cannot treat.

Modified Downward Dog
A modified downward dog, namely placing your hands on a wall in front of you instead of on the floor, can help stretch out the upper back and neck muscles. Stand with your feet directly underneath your hips at a distance from a wall in which your torso and outstretched arms fit. If you have to bend your arms before touching the wall, you are too close to the wall. For maximum results, make sure that your back is perfectly flat (get help from a spotter if need be). If you feel an unpleasant stretch in the backs of your legs, keep them slightly bent.

Sukhasana Neck Stretch
Using pranayama techniques and small neck stretches can have a big impact on minor neck pain. Sit comfortably and make sure that your back is straight and your shoulders are low. Close your eyes and inhale deeply. On the exhale, bring your chin down to your chest, which should produce a pleasant stretch in your neck. Hold this for a few inhales and exhales, then return to straight. A variation of this is to alternate bringing your chin to your chest one time, then your left ear to your left shoulder, then your right ear to your right shoulder. Be sure to stay in each position for at least a few inhales and exhales in order to get maximum relaxation and stretching benefits.

Half Spinal Twist
This pose strengthens and aligns the muscles in the back and neck (the spine). This pose also adds a nice stretch and is good for relaxing. Sit with one knee crossed on top of the other and lift the knee so that that foot can comfortably rest on the ground. Next, work into the twist by placing the arm opposite the leg on top around the knee and placing your other hand on the floor behind you. Don't force the stretch, but work into it gently. Repeat on the opposite side.

Strap Shoulder Stretch
Using a yoga strap, hold it in both hands with your arms extended straight over your head (doing this can be done in any standing or seated position as long as your back is straight). Slowly lower your arms and hands behind your back while holding the strap tightly in your hands. Progress with this slowly for a nice stretch.

Sun Salutations
Completing the sun salutation series is recommended for a wide array of ailments. Not only does this sequence of yoga poses strengthen and stretch virtually all areas of the body, but it is an excellent meditative practice. You can learn the sun salutation series through this sun salutation slideshow. Don't let the number of poses scare you, practice this series a few times a day and you will know it and benefit from it in no time at all.

The key to solving neck pain problems is addressing posture, muscles, and tension. Yoga poses for neck pain can help with all of these, but try to be mindful of your posture throughout the entire day. Sit up straight in the car and lower your shoulders. Do the same when sitting at a computer. The less damage you do to your back and neck each day, the better these yoga poses will feel.