Brent Punga, owner of AgroMax in Regina, said the raw materials for the product have to be shipped from India.

Once they arrive, the company will begin making the product it discontinued several years ago after the federal government ruled it was too toxic to non-target wildlife and caused an inhumane death.

WHY IT MATTERS: Strychnine to control gophers was phased out in Canada starting in 2020 toward a complete ban by 2024. Burgeoning populations and considerable damage to crops and pastures, however, led the two provinces to request an emergency-use registration last fall.

Health Canada announced March 30 it had approved a revised application from the two provinces after initially denying their request for emergency use registration.

It is in effect in parts of each jurisdiction until November 2027, but producers and rural municipalities will have to wait until the poison is available.

Numerous farm organizations had also called for its reinstatement.

Alberta agriculture minister R.J. Sigurdson told the House of Commons agriculture committee that damages in the last three years had increased from $80 million to $800 million.

“This is becoming a disaster in Alberta,” he said earlier in March.

Some restrictions apply

The reinstatement comes with restrictions, including a narrower window in which strychnine can be applied and measures to protect species at risk.

Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit said for 2026, the product can be used between July 15 and Sept. 1.

In 2027, application can be done between March 1 and June 15 before plants green up, and again between July 15 and Sept. 1.

The species-at-risk measures include increased monitoring, carcass collection and disposal requirements, and enhanced mandatory training. More details on these are still to come.

Saskatchewan is currently developing a strychnine stewardship program and expects training to be available in late spring.

Seven Saskatchewan crop districts in the southwest, southeast, south-central and northwest will have access, based on Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corp. claims data and the presence of species at risk.

In Alberta, most of the grain-growing region is included.

Both ministers said program details are still in development.

“We are working to procure supply and fully implement the agreement as soon as possible, and we will continue to work closely with farmers and ranchers across the province in the coming days to share more information,” Sigurdson said.

Marit said producers in that province have been clear they face challenges managing gophers with the other products available to them.

Reaction, so far

Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities president Bill Huber said the emergency registration was “a significant win for our members.”

“SARM will continue to work with governments and producers to ensure this tool is used responsibly and effectively,” he said.

Others thanked the provincial government for continuing to push producers’ concerns. Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association president Jeff Yorga called it a “common sense, made-in-Saskatchewan solution.”

Many noted the escalating damage and negative economic impacts since strychnine was eliminated.

SaskOats chair Elwood White said the population has increased sharply in some regions since 2023.

“This revised emergency use registration shows we can use strychnine safely while still protecting wildlife,” said SaskBarley chair Cody Glenn.

Grain Growers of Canada said it is only a temporary measure, and grain farmers need consistent access to effective pest management tools.

Not all were happy, though. Some comments on Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe’s Facebook page pointed out that strychnine puts pets and other animals at risk.

Animal Justice said it was disappointed and called the decision “an unscientific reversal of (the federal government’s) own earlier findings that the poison poses unacceptable risks to animals and the environment.”

In a letter, it and several other organizations said strychnine causes horrific pain and suffering for animals that can last for 24 hours.

The Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation and SARM announced prior to the recent decision, as they also did last year, that landowners experiencing problems with gophers could contact the SWF. The organization would then connect landowners with experienced SWF members for gopher control.

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Health Canada, which oversees the federal Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), announced Monday evening it has authorized a “time-limited and controlled” emergency-use registration for the rodent poison for those two provinces, running until November 2027.

WHY IT MATTERS: Other pest controls are available for use against gophers but farmers find strychnine both more effective and easier to use.

The new decision follows the federal government’s cancellations of all registered uses of strychnine in recent years, and a joint application for the product’s emergency use filed by the two provinces’ agriculture ministries last October.

PMRA had rejected that joint application in February, saying its proposals “did not provide sufficient means to address the risks of concern identified in the re-evaluation that led to strychnine’s cancellation.”

The earlier cancellations had been based on an updated environmental risk assessment, which had found no “practical risk-reduction measures to protect non-target animals” if they fed on strychnine-poisoned pest or predator animal carcasses or directly on poisoned gopher bait.

But…

However, Health Canada said Monday, the two provinces last week filed a revised joint emergency-use request which includes “additional restrictions and mitigations … to lower the environmental risk to an acceptable level.”

The “significant” added measures in the new plan include a “reduced geographical scope” and “revised product stewardship program,” among others, Health Canada said.

Further details on the new measures weren’t immediately available Monday night.

Since strychnine’s uses were cancelled, farmers and ranchers have been raising concerns about on-farm efficacy of other products still registered for use against gophers.

The temporary use of strychnine will help farmers address “multi-million dollars worth of damage” in various crops from a recent spike in populations of gophers, a.k.a. Richardson’s ground squirrels (RGS), Health Canada said Monday.

Health Canada noted the Prairies have been experiencing “abnormally dry conditions, which (affect) the sustainability and quality of farmlands and allowed the population of these gophers to increase significantly.”

Reaction so far

“Saskatchewan producers have been clear about the challenges they face in managing gophers with the limited tools currently available,” provincial Agriculture Minister David Marit said Monday in Health Canada’s release. “We’re pleased to see the emergency-use request granted as a practical opportunity for producers to demonstrate how strychnine can help protect their crops and pastures from continued damage.”

“Alberta’s producers have faced significant challenges managing (gophers) and the loss of this control method was difficult and costly for many in the ag sector,” RJ Sigurdson, Alberta’s minister for agriculture and irrigation, said in the same release.

“I’m confident that, with this effective tool back in the hands of our producers, they will be able to better manage their operations and reduce excessive crop and grassland losses due to the overpopulation of RGS throughout the Prairies.”

“Innovative and collaborative efforts by all levels of government are needed to support the domestic agriculture industry especially during this period of uncertainty,” federal health minister Marjorie Michel and agriculture minister Heath MacDonald said in the same release.

“Our governments’ shared commitment of supporting Canadian farmers, our economy and food security led us to work together to address a compounding threat.”

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On March 22, the federal government announced it would develop such a strategy, calling it “an opportunity to discuss how we can address freshwater-related threats and opportunities,” protect freshwater ecosystems, and secure water for communities and the economy, according to a news release.

The Canada Water Agency, which was repurposed in 2024 as a stand-alone freshwater management agency separate from Environment and Climate Change Canada, will spearhead the strategy’s development.

While the announcement was scant on details of what such a strategy might look like, it said the agency will work with provinces and territories, First Nations, Inuit and Métis partners, “stakeholders across sectors” and the public.

Farmers should be among those consulted, the CFA said in a statement to Glacier FarmMedia.

“Water security is absolutely critical for the future of Canadian farmers. Farmers in different regions of Canada have been devastated by water issues over the past few years, such as the floods in B.C., or the ongoing long-term drought in the Prairie provinces,” a federation spokesperson said.

“A lack of water has severe negative impacts on any type of farm, no matter what they grow or raise.”

Prioritizing food security, agriculture

The strategy should protect farmers and mitigate the effects of water-related events. It should also secure predictable access to water so farmers can maintain food production — for example, through effective water management policies and investment in water infrastructure, CFA said.

“Farmers need to make it clear that food security and agriculture production should be prioritized if there was any issues with access to water.”

“Farmers are also on the front-line of climate change, dealing with the on-ground realities of water-related events,” CFA added. “They have experience and knowledge that will be critical in developing this strategy.”

While the announcement made no specific mention of the agriculture industry, the sector will have an opportunity to share its views during the public engagement process, “recognizing that freshwater is fundamental to our economy, powering industries, agriculture, and the growth of communities,” a federal spokesperson told Glacier FarmMedia.

The federal government has not yet set timelines for consultations, but said those will be announced “in the coming months.”

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“Emergency preparedness on farms isn’t an option — it’s essential,” said CASA executive director Sandra Miller in a news release on Wednesday.

Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) has launched a new online Emergency Preparedness Hub, which collects information and resources in one place to help farmers prepare for crises. It contains tools developed by CASA and other organizations and links to province and sector-specific resources.

Tools cover preparedness across the four listed sectors: cattle, pork, poultry and sheep. They cover issues like natural disasters, extreme weather, biosecurity and outbreak managementand how to deal with protests and trespassers on the farm.

Sector-specific information is provided by partnered organizations Canadian Cattle Association, Ontario Pork, Poultry Industry Council and Ontario Sheep Farmers.

Links to emergency plans from federal, provincial and territorial government websites contain information on emergency preparedness in different jurisdictions.

The launch of the Emergency Preparedness Hub coincides with CASA’s Canadian Agricultural Safety Week, March 15-21.

The Emergency Preparedness Hub is now available online.

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The vision, along with the group’s new mission statement of promoting a “culture of agricultural safety that protects people through knowledge sharing, support, and meaningful connections” comes as part of Canadian Agricultural Safety Week, March 15-21.

“This new mission and vision, it’s not just a symbolic change,” said Sandy Miller, CASA’s executive director.

“Agriculture is one of Canada’s most hazardous industries, and we’ve made a lot of progress, but there are still too many preventable injuries and fatalities happening in farming.”

WHY IT MATTERS: Agriculture is one of Canada’s most dangerous job sectors, with more than 60 fatalities per year as a result of agriculture-related injuries

Miller said the choice of the word ‘harm’ in the new vision was a deliberate one to highlight both physical and mental health risks.

“It’s not just farmers getting injured stepping over PTOs,” she said. “There were so many other factors to be considered.”

“CASA’s role has always been about sharing knowledge to keep people safe, so we really wanted to be explicit in our role as an opportunity to drive cultural change.”

The evolution of farm safety

Cultural changes can be difficult to drive, but Miller said the conversation around farm safety and wellness has evolved before.

“Just looking at (mental health), I think there’s been a huge shift in terms of resources that are available, the conversations that are being had, the lessened stigma,” she said. “Are we there yet? No, but do I see progress? Absolutely.”

“When I think back to as recently as, let’s say, 2015-2016, very few farmers were talking about mental health,” she said. “We would say stress rather than mental health, because we were trying to ease our way into reducing some stigma.”

There have also been improvements on physical safety issues over time, like tractor rollover, Miller added.

CASA’s new vision reflect a focus on collaborative, positive solutions, the organization said in a March 16 news release.

Part of that collaborative approach involves working with provincial partners like AgSafe B.C. and federations of agriculture in Ontario, Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Miller added CASA is nearly finished crafting a 2026-29 strategic plan, which will translate the new priorities into action.

Practical measures

Miller added there are practical measures producers can take on their own farms which reflect this idea of practical solutions.

“Take step back and, just as you would do a circle check of your tractor, do a circle check of your farm,” she said.

She urged farmers to take a clear and honest look at what needs to be fixed, changed or replaced to protect themselves, their families, workers and neighbours.

Miller noted that CASA offers free courses and resources on farm safety.

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That’s according to speakers at a March 5 webinar hosted by the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA), which honoured 2026 as the United Nations’ International Year of the Woman Farmer and International Women’s Day, which is celebrated March 8.

The mental strain of shifting roles

Women often play multiple roles on a farm over the course of the day. This can take its toll mentally said Lauren Van Ewyk, CEO and Co-Founder of National Farm Mental Health Alliance.

“Typically, we think of producers as primary, secondary and tertiary producers,” she said, “and women typically fall into all three of those categories in many settings, in agriculture.”

Van Ewyk gave an example from her own experience.

“I’ll be in the barn, lambing out ewes,” she said. “We have a foster daughter who has brain cancer, so I’ll be getting a phone call from the school navigating medical care while I’m making sure that my lambs are getting what they need.”

She cited a study which stated self-reported mental health among rural women declined, “more than urban women, more than urban men, more than rural men,” post-COVID. This could have to do with the many burdens they shoulder on the farm.

She said there is research to suggest women often take on the role of their male partner’s emotional support. Men in Canada are less likely to seek professional help than women.

Different physical strains

The strains of this balancing act can also be physical, not just mental said Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture farm safety co-ordinator Adelaide Amuah.

“Because women are physiologically and anatomically different, have different bodies from males, we stand a higher risk of sprains and strains or musculoskeletal diseases,” she said.

“Taking care of the family, doing the books, using the equipment, machinery, playing so many roles on the farm means that this has higher stress on your muscles, your nerves, even when it comes to rest, you don’t have enough.”

These risks may not be immediately apparent. Effects could only show up later in life.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is also often made with men in mind, which can create issues when women use it.

“There’s lots of different body shapes, body sizes, body strengths, working on farms now,” said Alanna Coneybeare, vice president of Conlee Farms near Listowel, Ont. “So, having safety equipment that is suitable for everybody to use, I think, is something that is definitely overlooked on a lot of farms.”

Amuah said issue this can lead to women farmers using PPE that is uncomfortable or even dangerous.

“Imagine having a coverall,” she said. “It’s too loose, that means that it might get caught up in a machine, or get caught up in equipment, or if it’s too tight, you are not able to move freely in them.”

The role of mentorship, peer support

Unique challenges can create shared experiences, however, and those shared experiences can lead to mentorships, which the speakers said are crucial for women in agriculture.

“Women, we do have different lived experiences,” said Coneybeare. “We can have really fantastic male mentors who have a plethora of expertise and can really help our career as well, but I think there is a special need for kind of women to help other women as well.”

These conversations can lead to women supporting one another.

“If you gain something, I also gain something, the industry gains something.”

Knowing how and where to seek out these relationships is a key first step, Coneybeare said. This is especially important in agriculture, which does not have the same introductory mechanisms as other industries.

Van Ewyk said women need to be willing to step up, even if it involves confrontation.

“Globally, there’s women all around the world in agriculture who suffer because they’re a woman in ag,” she said. “So ideally, it’s to kind of link arms with one another.”

She encouraged those seeking mentorship to reach out to their local chamber of commerce, many of which have mentorship programs.

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Three new wheeled and three new tracked models have been added to the top of the 8 Series, pushing rated horsepower to an eye-popping 540, with a power bulge to 634. And all of that comes from a 14-litre engine, which is a first for the 8 Series.

To handle that bigger engine, Deere’s engineers had to do a ground-up redesign of the chassis, beefing it up and making it larger.

READ MORE: What’s new for 300-plus-h.p. tractors in 2026?

“The JD14 engine has been used in a lot of other machine forms, including the 9Rs and 9RXs, but it’s new to the 8Rs,” says Michael Porter, marketing manager for large tractors and tillage.

“It’s not just about putting that engine into an 8 (Series tractor). It’s a completely new frame and design from the ground up, even a new assembly line at Waterloo (Iowa), to make this package work. We basically built a new tractor around that engine.”

The new models are rated at 440, 490 and 540 horsepower and are available in wheeled (8R 440, 8R 490, 8R 540) and four-tracked (8RX 440, 8RX 490, 8RX 540) versions.

Deere’s Intelligent Power Management has been been updated to the new Peak Power IPM system, which unlocks the power bulge on a wider range of load demands, allowing the 8R 540 and 8RX 540 model to hit 634 peak ponies in more situations.

“We’ve enabled that to be unlocked in a lot more opportunities: in steep hills, pulling electric planters, hydraulic loads as well as transport speeds,” says Porter.

“We’re enabling it to still have that 10 per cent power bulge to the tires and still get through those tough scenarios.

“We’re going to have to work with our customers so they fully understand all the opportunities Peak Power IPM is unlocking. It’s a big deal for these tractors. It punches way above the (model number) sticker on the side.”

Power supply, power demand

Bolted to the back of the JD14 engines is Deere’s Electric Variable Transmission, which replaces internal hydraulic motors with electric.

The green brand has been offering a version of that transmission in the line’s existing 410 model. Electric motors allow the transmission to run quieter and reduce the time it would take mechanics to diagnose a problem than on a conventional hydraulic IVT.

There are other features that improve servicing as well, including making daily checks easier.

Building on the model year 2025 enhancement of ground-up serviceability changes on high-horsepower 9RX tractors, the engine oil, coolant and hydraulic oil sight gauges are at eye level so fluids can be quickly checked. Air filter servicing, fuel and DEF fills can now be done from the ground.

One of the key differences the EVT provides is an outlet for off-board power supply. However, it isn’t supplying the 700-volt current that the agricultural engineering world has set as standard for implement supply.

“One of those electric motors is always taking electrical power from the drivetrain, using it for another function,” says Porter.

“We’ve had a couple of different OEMs work with us to find uses for that power in the 700-volt range. This model year tractor is the first time we’re able to use a 56-volt system, which is what our planters run on today.

“Instead of having a p.t.o. or generator to run that planter, we’re able to just plug straight in to the back of the tractor. This is a step our customers have been waiting and asking for. A lot of detail went into looking at what these tractors are being used for and building up that feature set to give value back to customers.”

That electric power supply can be controlled directly from the in-cab terminal.

When it comes to hydraulic capacity, the previous maximum 87 g.p.m. (329 l/mn) in the existing 8 Series models gets boosted to 110 g.p.m. (416 l/mn) in the new tractors. The steering system gets its own dedicated hydraulic pump so implement supply won’t get disrupted.

“The cab on the 8RX is the same cab we introduced on the 9RX, the CommandView 4 plus,” says Porter.

“We are giving them more space, exclusively on the 8RX. The 8R cabs are the same as today’s 8R cabs, but the inside is completely new. It starts with a new CommandArm. We’re calling this our next generation of John Deere operator experience. This is the first machine from Deere that will adopt this.”

There is also a new display screen under the G5 display that controls tractor functions and programmable features on the control arm.

There are now three options for transmission control: the CommandX, CommandX Plus and CommandX Pro.

“Some of the improvements will come over (to existing smaller 8Rs) when we talk about the cab and controls,” says Porter.

“I would say there are a lot of things that are exclusive to these (bigger) 8s.”

Don’t think the old standard red John Deere key will fire up one of these new models. For improved security, the tractors get a push-button start with increased security features, such as requiring a PIN if an owner wants.

“It’s the first from Deere on the Ag and Turf side,” says Porter.

“It also uses a PIN number or code, if the customer wants to, to prevent someone from starting the machine.”

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The survey invites farmers and ranchers across all commodities and regions in Canada to share their experiences with stress, anxiety, depression, burnout, resilience, and coping mechanisms. It’s conducted in partnership with the University of Guelph.

“Strong participation helps ensure that future research, programs, and policy decisions are informed by the real experiences of farmers and ranchers,” the centre said in a news release.

WHY IT MATTERS: The survey will improve understanding of the current state of mental health in agriculture and build on the previous national surveys from 2016 and 2021.

In 2021, the showed that the COVID-19 pandemic had worsened existing issues of high stress, anxiety, and burnout among farmers and ranchers, with women reporting poorer mental health than men across all measures except alcohol use.

“Both women and men who farm scored worse than the general population, but the women scored even worse,” said Briana Hagen, the centre’s and lead scientist, told Farmtario in November 2022. “Given the role of women in farming, this data highlights a pretty serious problem that we have to start looking into.”

Suicidal ideation was twice as high in farmers as in the general population said University of Guelph researcher Dr. Andria Jones in a 2022 article from the university. Jones led the research that year.

She also noted that one in four participants reported having thought their life wasn’t worth living, wishing they were dead, or having thoughts of taking their own life in the 12 months leading up to the survey.

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I have written about a few over the years, and each have their pros and cons.

In the old days, many counties in Alberta would rent a chute on transport wheels.

Luckily, the old scissor-type head gates are a thing of the past because many animals would attempt to jump through and get hung up at the hips.

Ensure safety

It’s important for the safety of producers and everyone else dealing with their stock that handling equipment is functional and safe.

The brand-name chutes still need to be checked to make sure nothing is broken.

The older chutes with wooden boards and wooden floor struts can be replaced with treated lumber.

The quality is generally there, and as a start-up chute, it is still considered a good choice.

There are also calf cradles or calf chutes, and if dealing with smaller calves at spring turnout, these work fine.

Restraint is key in today’s cattle production with its preventive vaccines, preg checking, calf implanting and the administration of pour-on products or those given orally.

Having a functioning, well-maintained chute is the way to get you there.

Neighbours know best

It’s best to talk to your neighbours about why they like their chute.

When in doubt, the best person to ask is your herd veterinarian because they have used all kinds of chutes in all kinds of circumstances.

Many producers advance from a good manual chute to a hydraulic one, and I have even written an article on the advantages of hydraulic chutes.

They come with a price tag, but the savings on labour are huge, and a small person can run one all day and not get fatigued.

I have had situations where a calf got turned around in a lead-up alley system while castrating and vaccinating. The beauty is the calf can be backed into the chute and essentially done backward and then backed out of the chute. These are all labour savings.

The newer chutes can have neck restraints that make implanting much easier. Implanting does take some skill and repetition, but the proper head restraint is key.

Instructions not included

When I jokingly ask someone who has just bought a chute if they had read the operator’s manual, the hesitant response is always no. That’s because they don’t come with one, so producers need to jump in and work with them.

Experiment with the neck adjustment and adjusting the width of the chute. Make sure there is a mechanism for traction on the floor.

The biggest improvements over the years have been metal floors with built-in traction devices and better access panels for giving shots, especially with access to the neck area.

Ideally, there will be a self-catch head gate or one that can be operated from the side.

I recently used an Arrowquip chute manufactured in Manitoba. It allows the user to operate from the side so that cattle walk easily along. It is also very well leveraged so younger folk can easily use it. A large fibreglass bar can be placed behind the livestock.

Good equipment reduces stress

Animal welfare has improved dramatically in modern livestock production because of good equipment. The stress on the cattle and operators has greatly reduced, and we simply do a better job.

The importance of handling equipment will increase as individual care becomes more common and more products are given orally or poured on.

Chutes have had to get bigger, especially in the cow-calf and feedlot sector, because finished cattle are bigger and heavily pregnant cows require width when moving through the chutes.

Old chutes are often placed in pastures and work well with small catch pens.

We now have the ability to dart with certain products in situations where the medication will help and where animals are in too big an area to round up or the family doesn’t have a very experienced roper.

Protocols for the use of remote drug delivery devices should be worked out with a veterinarian.

I also don’t know many decent-sized producers who don’t have a maternity pen.

Make it easy on yourself when examining a cow at calving or helping them suck.

They need to be set up somewhere that has easy access, a good light source and is out of the elements. They are worth their weight in gold, and can often be found at farm dispersals, ranch sales or consignment auctions in rural towns.

I have my favourites, but any maternity pen is better than no maternity pen.

Handling equipment is a worthwhile, long-term investment.

It increases efficiency and safety for both the veterinarian and the producer.

As well, the cattle are much safer and less likely to injure themselves, even the frantic ones.

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In the seasonal change from summer into fall toward winter, I tend to see an increase in neck tension complaints as the fall chill sets into our bodies. People are unconsciously shrugging or holding their shoulders toward their ears as a defence against colder temperatures and fall busyness, not to mention the seasonal colds and flus that begin to affect us.

Neck tension and pain can stem from many roots, the most common ones being postural strain, side effects of illness and stress and joint stiffness in the upper spine. Luckily, most neck complaints are minor in nature, in that they pass with appropriate support and gentle mobility practice. Here are a few of my go-to ideas for supporting and easing neck complaints:

Get on your nerves

One of the best ways to support an easing of neck tension is to work with the nervous system. Many stretches get into the neck muscles, but sometimes an even gentler approach is appreciated in this sensitive part of the body. The soft tissues in the neck serve to move our heads, help in balancing and orientating our bodies and guard important aspects of our neurology. The neck muscles take their job very seriously, and tension here can mean a perceived threat to any of our vital structures in the area. By taking a nervous system-friendly approach, we can relatively quickly ease any postural tension in all areas of the neck, at no risk of irritating anything further.

The nervous system responds very well to easy and slow ranges of motion. Try this simple routine:

• Setup: Sit or lay back with your knees bent and feet resting on the floor. Let gravity take over your shoulders.
• Rotation: As slowly as possible, rotate your head as if to look over one shoulder only as far as you can go with no sensation (we are not looking for a stretch here), then repeat this the other direction.
• Repetition: Move slowly and within the easiest available range of motion back and forth for about 20 passes.
• Side flexion: Repeat this idea with side flexion (tilting one ear toward the same side shoulder, in the easiest range of motion).

Breathe easily and steadily throughout. You’ll likely notice the range of motion available naturally increases given time, with no force necessary.

Catch and release

Next up, you can continue to treat the soft tissues and the nervous system in the area by doing a gentle tense-release practice. Tense-release practices, also known as progressive muscle relaxation, work by intentionally contracting muscle groups, then intentionally relaxing them. For the purposes of easing neck tension, we will work with the shoulders.

• Seated or laying comfortably, with your natural in-breath bring the shoulders up toward the ears as high as you comfortably can; then, with your natural exhale, release the shoulders back toward the ground. Repeat this five to 10 rounds.
• Staying with the shoulders, do another five to 10 rounds of inhaling to draw the shoulders toward the sternum, exhaling to let them sink back to where they began.
• Then, one more set, this time drawing the shoulders back toward the spine with the in-breath, and then releasing them to their start point with the exhales.

Warm regards

The neck tends to respond well to heat, especially with the kind of tension that tends to build up over time or stiffness that feels deep in the joints. Using a flax bag or hot, moist towel, wrap the neck and settle into a steady, rhythmical breath.

• Aim to inhale for three to six seconds (whatever is easy!).
• Exhale for about the same duration.
• After a moment, begin inviting the exhales to lengthen.

You could also do this breath practice in a hot shower or bath, imagining gravity making its way into the bones and tissues in the neck as you exhale.

When to seek support

At the end of the day, neck tension and pain can certainly be intrusive. Seeking out hands-on support from your local practitioners may be a good option. The neck generally responds well to treatments such as massage therapy, acupuncture, osteopathy, craniosacral therapy, athletic therapy, physiotherapy and others. Having neck tension assessed by a professional can provide options for more specific exercises and treatments that help improve your overall quality of life. If neck pain becomes intrusive to sleep or daily function, and is accompanied by headaches that do not change with time and treatment, and radiating pain down the arms, it’s important to seek professional assessment as soon as possible.

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