Which shoulder cue is emphasized in this sequence?

Which shoulder cue is emphasized in this sequence?

• A. Relax your shoulders down your back
• B. Tense your neck and jaw
• C. Elevate the shoulders toward the ears
• D. Press the shoulder blades forward

Answer: (A)

Focusing on relaxing the shoulders down your back keeps the shoulder girdle in a neutral, supported position, which helps the spine lengthen and the breath stay unrestricted through the sequence. When the shoulders are drawn down and away from the ears, the chest opens naturally and the neck stays tall, reducing tension and risk of strain. If you tense the neck and jaw, or lift the shoulders toward the ears, or push the blades forward, you create unnecessary tightness, crowd the airway, and collapse the upper back, which makes movements less stable and less comfortable. So the best cue is to relax the shoulders down your back to maintain calm, aligned shoulders throughout the practice.

Focusing on relaxing the shoulders down your back keeps the shoulder girdle in a neutral, supported position, which helps the spine lengthen and the breath stay unrestricted through the sequence. When the shoulders are drawn down and away from the ears, the chest opens naturally and the neck stays tall, reducing tension and risk of strain. If you tense the neck and jaw, or lift the shoulders toward the ears, or push the blades forward, you create unnecessary tightness, crowd the airway, and collapse the upper back, which makes movements less stable and less comfortable. So the best cue is to relax the shoulders down your back to maintain calm, aligned shoulders throughout the practice.