Neck and jaw problems can be some of the most painful and inconvenient injuries to deal with.
Luckily, there is a quick and easy way of preventing these types of injuries while toning these muscles at the same time. By adding some simple stretches and exercises to your daily routine, you can greatly reduce your risk of injury.
Read on to find five of the best neck and jaw exercises to add to your workout today!
Head Tilts
This is one of the best neck exercises for beginners.
Tip your head back and forward until you feel a stretch in your neck. Then, tilt your head from side to side by tipping your ear towards your shoulder. Finally, turn your head to each side.
For each of these exercises, hold for five seconds. Then return to your resting position and move on to the other side. Try doing each stretch five times, ideally up to three times a day.
Hands on Head
This exercise is a simple but effective way of avoiding neck injuries.
To do this exercise, simply put your hands on your forehead and keep your neck tensed or tightened while pushing back gently with your hands. You will be able to feel your neck muscles resisting the pressure.
Do this for six seconds, before resting for ten seconds. Repeat this exercise up to eight to twelve times more. You can also adapt this exercise by placing your hands on the back or sides of your head.
Jaw Stretches
Some of the best exercises to tone the neck and jaw are some of the simplest. Try out some basic jaw stretches in front of a mirror to reduce jaw stiffness and avoid injury.
Stretch your jaw from side to side with your teeth slightly apart. Then, try lowering your jaw as far as possible, before returning to neutral. Finally, protrude your jaw by pushing your bottom teeth in front of your top teeth.
Once again, we recommend that you hold each position for five seconds at a time. Do each exercise five times and try and repeat them three times a day.
Vowel Exercises
If you’re looking for both neck and jaw exercise tips, vowel exercises are for you. By stretching your mouth and sounding out vowels in an exaggerated way, you can target the muscles around your lips.
This is also a great exercise to tone your neck and jaw, as it strengthens the lesser-used muscles. Open your mouth and create an exaggerated “O” sound. Then try an “E” sound. Repeat several times a day.
Tongue Twister
The tongue twister is one of the best jaw exercises around for toning the jawline.
Push your tongue against the roof of your mouth. If you hum you will create a vibrating sound that will cause tension and activate your jaw muscles.
Remember that our jaw muscles are usually underdeveloped, so go slowly and only do as many reps as you feel comfortable with.
Add Neck and Jaw Exercises to Your Daily Routine
Regular neck and jaw exercises are a great way to exercise underused muscles and prevent injuries down the road.
You may also want to have a piece of equipment like an Iron Neck to be more efficient in your neck exercise. Especially if you wish to take it to the next level. At the end of the day, a stronger neck will give you the benefits of preventing any neck or back pain in the future.
The beauty of these exercises is they don’t require equipment, so they can be done anywhere. Adding any of these exercises to your workout routine is a great choice for your future health and wellbeing.
If you enjoyed this article, and are looking for more ways to stay healthy and strong, be sure to check out the rest of our blog today!
