Grace Wilson, IntentBlog

Most of us hold tension in our neck and shoulder area, and it sometimes begins to creep toward our ears.

Start with one person lying down on the floor, face up. When finished, switch places and repeat the techniques so that both partners have the opportunity to give and receive.

Kneel up at the top of your partner's head facing down toward his
feet. Place your palms on the very top part of your partner's arms
with your fingers pointing down the arms. The heels of your hands
should be pressing into the anterior portion (the front side of the body) of the deltoid muscles (the muscles that encapsulate the shoulder joint at the top of the arm).

Start with your right hand and press your partner's right shoulder
straight down into the floor. As you press, your partner's head may roll to the side or the other shoulder may come up off the floor -
that's normal. Press and hold the shoulder down for a second or two, then release. Switch hands and press your left hand into your
partner's left shoulder and push it down into the floor. Hold for a
second or two and then release.

Do this several times back and forth to warm up the shoulders. Begin stretching and opening up the pectoral muscles (commonly called pecs). Press, hold, release; switch sides and press, hold, release; switch sides, and so on.

To really open up the chest press down on both shoulders at the same time!

Grace Wilson is the author of "Massage In Minutes: Simple Techniques for Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere."