Hey, I think my workouts are making my shoulders tight and curled in. I'm totally hunching them and cant' seem to get them to stay down and back. Does anyone know how to get them more stretched out? Is it a problem with the routine I'm doing, or do I have poor form or something? I've always had good posture - I dont' want to look like an old lady!
have you tried yoga? We do alot of stretches in our class (I take discover yoga- the beginner class) that "open up the chest" but it really helps with your posture and back.
I can't recommed any specific stretches for you but try a yoga class or video. HTH.
When you are just sitting around your house or where ever, tuck your chin down toward your chest. It is really hard to keep your shoulders hunched when you do that, so it may help relax/ retrain those muscles. My sister is a physical therapist and she gave me that tip.
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Know first, who you are; and then adorn yourself accordingly.
-Epictetus
A trainer once told me to really stretch the muscle groups I'm working on as soon as I'm done working them to keep from getting bulky muscles (she used the example of the no necks in the weight room). I don't know if it's true or not but I always do it because I don't want a fat neck! It's probably dumb reasoning but stretching is always good so it can't hurt.
I know this is a little past when you asked, but when I went for a personal training session, my shoulders were hunching. It was because my pec muscles were stronger than my upper back muscles (dorsi is what I think they are called). Have a trainer evaluate your work out- they should do it for free- and they could tell you how to correct that.