Our Los Gatos personal trainers want to know are you reading this on either your phone, tablet, or laptop? Of course, you are! It’s time to do a quick check … Is your head tilted down in order to see? If you spend a lot of time in this position (and who doesn’t these days?!), our Los Gatos personal trainers want you to know you are actually at risk for developing something called “text neck” – if you don’t already have it. Text neck happens when you spend a lot of time with your head forward, shoulders rounded, and your back hunched. Many of us are in this position upwards of 4 to 5 hours a day! Here’s what happens when you spend a lot of time in that position ... The muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the front of your neck/shoulders get compressed and tight – while the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the back of your neck and shoulders get long and overstretched. You can see how over time, this can potentially cause imbalance, pain, and real problems. Especially since for every inch your head juts forward, it puts an extra 10 lbs of pressure on your neck! So … what can you do about it? Try following these tips from our Los Gatos personal trainers: 1. Notice when you are in the “text neck” position. Adjust your posture when you find yourself hunched over your phone or device, and bring your screen to eye level whenever possible. 2. Intentionally step away from your device for several minutes. Put it down and walk away! This also can help with mindfulness and relaxation. If you’re working all day on your devices, set an alarm to get out of your chair at least once an hour to move your body and stretch out a bit. 3. Do exercises to counteract text neck. The goal is to do exercises that help restore balance to your muscles, restoring flexibility to tight muscles and strength to lengthened muscles. That means core exercises like planks and glute bridges – and shying away from crunches, which can exacerbate text neck! Our Los Gatos personal trainers hope these tips help. Remember, a little mindfulness can go a really long way! Live Stronger For Today, John Heringer Chief Motivator, Method3 Fitness Method3 Fitness is conveniently located in San Jose. Our team of personal trainers serve clients in Los Gatos, Campbell, Willow Glen and other surrounding Bay Area cities. Ready to get started with us? Fill out the “Request More Information Now” box above to receive your free consultation with our Campbell personal trainers and experience the Method3 difference OR call us at (408) 371-1212 to connect. Hope we can talk to you soon. If you found this blog useful, be sure to LIKE, LEAVE A COMMENT, and SHARE it on your favorite channel! The Method3 Fitness blog is updated weekly by our San Jose personal trainers. All content is designed to improve the way you move, eat, and think so you can achieve your goals and live stronger for today. Check back here each week and LIKE our Fan Page, to stay up to date on the latest tips, strategies and methods to get fit, lose fat, and build confidence.