Hey fellow massage therapists,
We all know how crucial shoulder mobility is. We see firsthand how much our clients suffer when they lose it. And let’s be honest, we definitely don’t want that to happen to us. It could put us out of work, and we’d be kicking ourselves if we let it slip.
So, what are you doing to prevent shoulder issues?
- Do you have a daily mobility routine?
- What about a quick micro-routine between clients?
- And how do you do weekly check-ins to ensure your mobility isn’t gradually declining?
If you’re missing any or all of these routines, don’t worry! I’ve developed simple routines that have kept my shoulders healthy and mobile through 20 years of deep structural massage.
My Shoulder Mobility Routines
Daily in the morning:
- Warm-ups
- Gentle arm wringing
- 360 degree arm swings
- Stretches/mobilization exercises
- Door frame pec stretches
- Bodyweight or banded IYLTW exercises
- T-prone stretch
Micro Self-Care Between Clients:
- Pigeon pose with a twist
- 360 degree arm pinwheels
- 1-2x door frame pec stretches
- Behind-the-back arm binds
Weekly Check-in:
- Perform a mirror self-assessment for posture. Note anything you need to focus on for the week.
- Check hip mobility with body wsquats, psoas stretches, and pigeon pose.
- Check for anterior shoulder posture. Stretch the Pec minor or Pec major as needed and release the diaphragm.
- Check neck range of motion. Stretch the scalenes and SCM.
These routines are intended to be simple to do, easy to remember, and doable anywhere anytime. While it is great to have a more comprehensive routine I have found that this simple series to always fall back into stops me from skipping days and finding excuses that eventually lead to me getting tight!
If you’re finding it difficult to maintain your open posture, or if you’re looking for ways to simplify your self-care routine, check out my article on how I optimized my daily activities to improve my range of motion and reduce self-care time Click here to read Unlock effortless flexibility with Neuro Hacking
Let’s prioritize our well-being and keep our shoulders healthy!