Neck pain

[katgi]

Hi everyone,
I have a problem which arised recently when doing halasana.It feels like my trapezius has become stiff at its base(neck).I think I can touch sth like a gagglius. I am planning to do an x-ray but I was wondering should I skip on halasana? and do you have any ideas on what poses I should practise to losen up the muscle?

[InnerAthlete]

Oh dear. Sorry you're hurt.
What does this sentence mean please "I think I can touch sth like a gagglius".

How are/were you doing Halasana please? It is ill advised to do such a pose on the flat floor (without props) unless one is a very experienced asana practitioner. Doing so often leads to neck malady.

There's simply too much to ask about your pose to assess wthis properly. What is your Sarvangasana like, does your spine move into the body, where are your hands for Halasna, how do you come into the poe. are the toes on the floor or are the feet on a wall, simply too many questions.

If this is merely muscular AND it is only in the Trapezius then it can be complex. The trapezius has upper, midddle, and lower fibers which have different mobilization responsibilities for the scapula. It is the activation of the rhomboids, and the middle and lower fibers of the trapezius that will release the upper trap fibers.

Therefore it is possible to get where you are asking to go (though I do not know if that is also where you NEED to go) by working Gomukhasana, Garudasana, depressing the shoulder blades in Bhujangasana, Tadasana, and Adho Mukha Svanasana etcetera.

However, when asana is done without the proper action then it is possible to exacerbate the tension in the upper fibers of the trapezius. For example improper action in Adho Mukha Svanasana. Without the activation of the serratus then the release of the neck muscles become anatomically problematic.

[katgi]

Thank you Inner Athlete,
you gave me a step ahead. I've been practising yoga for twelve years on a daily base. I do halasana with no props and my toes touch easily the ground. Hands are on the floor, no stress at all-it's one of my favourites after all. I guess I injured myself, as I teach and I often have to get out of my asana to help students.
I hope it is in the upper layer and there it must be since I feel sth like a gorge there.
Do you think I can still practise Halasana with a blanket?I have no problem in sarvangasana and sirsasana, though I have quit sirsasana for preventive reasons.
Don't imagine I am in seriouw pain, it is just an ache but in yoga I have learnt to show importance to everything so that's why I am searching it.
Thank you again

[InnerAthlete]

best to just call me Gordon, thank you.

I don't advise halasana without props. For some that means two folded blankets. For others it is foamy pads wrapped in a sticky mat. Either way the cervical curve should be protected.

When I say "very experienced asana practitioner" I do not refer to the number of years of practice. Though that is certainly relevant data. I refer instead to certain abilities, actions, alignments, and safety precautions (which again may or may not come with a decade of practice as it fully depends on the practice being done). Not seeing the pose I cannnot assume. I simply do not do, advise, or advocate Halasana without props to maintain the integrity of the cervical curve.

Sarvangasana is a relevant comparison for this pose. Sirsasana is not. Sarvangasana and Halasana are neck openers. Sirsasana is not (unlesss it's done between two chairs with the head released). I would avoid Halasana until you are pain free for at least three weeks. If you still chose to do the pose, absolutely with props. Absolutely.

Relative to teaching, it is critical to give yourself the time to enter and exit asana with integrity and safety. Most yoga injuries occur in transition rather than in posture. My style of teaching is likely not your style of teaching. To me there is no teacher practice simultaneous with student practice UNLESS the teacher can easily see and get to every student in the room. So if you are showing Halasana, bring everyone up to your mat, show the pose, come out with integrity, then send them back to do the same. Remember, whatever we show in the demo we can likely expect the student to do (if possible). So if you rush out of the pose they will too.