Tension tamer for the shoulders and upper back

Thank you Marlena for this wonderful stretch class. I could feel opening and releasing tension from upper back and shoulder after this sequence.

I've come back to this class two months later. Last time I found the last pose with arms above the head impossible but this time it was a pleasure (challenging, and my straight arm remained upright rather than almost horizontal like yours, but infinitely more pleasurable than last time). I had been quick to blame my bone structure but you were of course right to say that the pose would become more available as my shoulders loosened up. Thank you Marlene.

I enjoyed that class although my shoulders are too tight for the pose at the end (the "cherry on the icing"). I can only just get one hand to the other elbow and no way will my head go upright, there isn't room! I think it's partly my bone structure too. Could you suggest any modifications as I couldn't work out where I should be feeling a stretch. is it better to bring my arms in front of my head or just hold much higher up and try to keep my shoulders back? Or leave this pose out altogether? thanks x

Thank you Marlene, great stretches and feeling more space in shoulders and upper back :-) Delicious! xx

Wow that worked for me , thank you Marlene

Dear Marlene, thank you for this class, my shoulders opened up nicely!

Lovely to practice with you as always Marlene, my sore shoulders and upper back say thank you!

Beautiful my shoulders and upper back feel amazing. Tingling legs though as I'm not used to kneeling for so long. You're such a pleasure to watch Marlene. Namaste x

This must be the best shoulder and wrist stretch I've ever had (and I needed it)! Thank you Marlene!

Thank you Marlene! With you some "boring" exercises become very nice and amusing!! Great Marlene!!

Apologies Marlene, the scalenes are located in the neck (sometimes referred to as the Bermuda triangle). As I understand it, if they get stuck together and knotted then the arm / shoulder rotation is also effected ( my issue) ...the other issue with scalenes, is that, although they are small they are somewhat 'control freaks' and desire and also, at times, tend to take over the job of other muscles! This plays out when the head leads the heart - when the will charges ahead in desire to create form... Think I might have answered my own question... to 'pull my head in' ! I will play around with in throughout your class and let you know the outcome.

That Cherry on the cake...love it ... this set securely in my favourites for a once a week atonement ...just wondering if there are any extension poses to target the scalenes....my personal bug bare..nasty things that they are ?

That was great, thank you Marlene!

Oh that was such a lovely half hour! I would like to do it all over again, great for somebody hunched over a screen too long each day! x

Amazing class, and it was absolately what I need.

Wow, this is simply wonderful. Always have issues with my shoulders and they feel amazing now! There were a few times when I gasped from the relief I was getting. Will definitely be doing regularly!

Beautiful class. Thanksso much ?

Good Had to put something. Under my thighs and on top of hay calves. Could I sit on my bottom with ankles crossed.

I was able to do the first few moves for the arms and shoulders, within my own limits, but I couldn't do any of the on-the-stomach moves because I have two bad disks in my low back. Are there alternatives to strengthening or stretching the low back, if that's what you were doing there? If they were other ways to stretch out the upper back, can you provide alternatives that won't stress the low back? I can't do cobra or even sphinx these days, and even just lying on my stomach can be difficult. I think I could get more flexibility in my shoulders if I do some of these stretches regularly, but I definitely feel a little better even with what I was able to manage this fist time. Thank you.

What a lovely class. Thank you Marlene. I have shoulder and upper back soreness and this helped a great deal!

I had to stand for a bit. Sometimes, the sitting on calves makes my feet get all tingly and numb. Hope that's acceptable.

great class! Thank you!

Thanks for the class as my shoulder and arm were hurting and quite stiff. This practice has given me some relief. I could not be sitting on my ankles for so long so had to lift my bottom sometimes, which I hope did not mean the exercises became less effective. Namaste.