Think of it As Your Personal Traveling Massage Therapist!
Our neck and shoulders are there to support us. But our busy workday lives can put unnecessary strain on our upper spine. Sitting hunched over a computer screen for hours a day; bending our necks to hold a cell phone between ear and shoulder, poor posture and so much more can lead to tension headaches and poor circulation.
Take a break and use the
Wooden Pillow to relax, realign and refresh your neck and shoulders!
The Wooden Pillow:
Made of lightweight wood from the Paulownia tree which is known for its toxin-drawing properties, the Wooden Pillow has been used traditionally in Eastern countries for centuries to release neck and shoulder tension and support spinal health.
By stimulating acupressure points deep within your body, it is used to align the skeletal system, stimulate blood and lymph circulation and create space in the myofascial to provide a deep tissue massage for effective and lasting relief.
Working with the Wooden Pillow for just 10 minutes a day can restore your alignment, soothe tired muscles and replenish your mind and body.
In just a few minutes these simple exercises will give you a deep neck and back massage, increase blood circulation and clear the cobwebs from your brain.
Lightweight and portable, the wooden pillow is a travel-friendly tool that allows you to bring yourself back to ease in body and mind, anywhere you can roll out a yoga mat!
How to Use the Wooden Pillow:
Image 1: Warm up for your Wooden Pillow exercise session by placing the wooden pillow at the base of your skull and raise your arms, shoulder width apart, and legs into the air. Don’t lift your buttocks too far off the floor and keep your lower back flat. Push your heels up, slightly flexing your foot, pulling your toes toward your knees at a 90-degree angle to your ankles.
Take a couple of deep breaths and exhale. Keep your lips slightly parted and begin shaking your arms and legs, especially your thighs and upper arms, not just your fingertips. Shaking, with your limbs raised above your heart helps deliver new blood to your extremities, especially the end of your toes and fingertips. Keep shaking to carry nutrients throughout your bloodstream and flush away metabolic waste. Shake away your stress and promote circulation!
Keep shaking for a minimum of 45 seconds to feel warm energy run through your body. Try holding this pose, shaking for 2-3 minutes for best results.
Image 2: Place the wooden pillow at a comfortable place in the curve of your neck. Turn your neck side-to-side, finding a comfortable position. Relax your neck muscles and shoulders, close your eyes gently and follow your natural breath for a few moments.
Use caution to protect your vertebrae when using the wooden pillow on your neck. Too much pressure can cause dislocation or severe nerve or muscle pain.This wood pillow is designed for the C-curve of your neck. If you've never used a wooden pillow before, it will probably take from three days to one week for your body to adapt to it. You can sleep on the wooden pillow but work up to it gradually to avoid stiffness.
Image 3-4: Rock your head gently back and forth over the wooden pillow.
Feel tight spots and points of pain slowly diminish as you keep rocking your head back and forth, breathing naturally for as many counts as you'd like. If you suffer from headache or eye strain, the wooden pillow can help relieve it.
Image 5: To relieve tightness in your upper back, lay on the wooden pillow with it placed at an angle just under your back shoulder. Make sure the edge of the pillow is next to your spine and not pressing directly into it. Raise your chin to stretch the entire front of your neck, clavicle and chest. Move your arm out at an angle to stretch, massage and create room in your upper back muscles. Hold this pose for at least 45 seconds when you'll begin to feel your muscles warm and release tension. Switch to your left side and hold for 45 seconds. Hold this pose for 2-3 minutes for a deeper massage.
Image 6: For a full upper body stretch, place the wooden pillow across your upper back, just below the shoulders and lift your arms over your head. Raise your chin to stretch the front of your neck and chest. Hold this pose for 1-2 minutes for a deep, fully relaxing massage.
Caution: If you have high blood pressure you should position your arm below your heart.
You can purchase the
wooden pillow in our online store
here.
Warnings: The wooden pillow is a hard object. Use light to moderate pressure against your neck or head when using the wooden pillow for massage. You may feel some pain when stimulating certain points. If the pain is greater than what feels good, use a towel. Do not use the wooden pillow for more than 5 minutes at first. Then slowly increase the time.
IMPORTANT: Never use the wooden pillow on open wounds, fractures or any area of the body that is post-operative.