Neck pain is a common complaint I hear—and not just as a physical ache. When we look deeper, the neck often holds energetic stories that want to be heard.

Physically, the neck is where stress lands first. We brace, clench, and tighten without even realizing it, as if the body is always preparing for impact.

Energetically, the neck is the bridge between heart and head—the place where what you feel meets how you express it.

• In the throat chakra (Vishuddha), pain or stiffness can signal suppressed communication, fear of speaking truth, or words unspoken.

• Symbolically, neck pain is often linked to stubbornness or rigidity—the inability to look at life from a new perspective.

• And from a nervous system view, chronic neck tension reflects being “stuck” in fight-or-flight, unable to fully relax into safety.

In yoga and earth medicine traditions, we see the neck as a channel of flow—breath, sound, and prana all pass through. When blocked, it’s like a dammed river. The good news? With the right practices, you can restore flow and feel lightness return.

This 11-minute PolyVagal Neck Series is a series I teach often in my Sunday classes. 

It’s a short, powerful practice designed to relieve tension, regulate your nervous system, and clear energetic blockages in your throat and upper spine.

Give yourself these 11 minutes of release—you’ll be amazed at the difference.