Written by Mo Wolfe
Picture an owl. An owl can turn its head almost completely around. It doesn’t have to move its shoulders, twist its entire body, or take three steps to see what’s happening behind it. Obviously, we’re not owls. But our heads were designed to move, and we’re not moving them nearly enough anymore.
Consider how much of our day is spent looking straight ahead—or slightly down. Computers. Phones. Driving. Television. Reading. Scrolling. We spend hours with our heads in essentially the same position, and then we’re surprised when turning our head to check a blind spot feels like a major event.
Joe Pilates Knew the Neck Needed to Be Strong
Before Pilates became Pilates, Joe’s world included boxing, wrestling, gymnastics, and physical training. He trained boxers and understood the importance of a strong, well-controlled neck. For a boxer, neck strength wasn’t simply about posture. It was about being able to absorb a punch to the face without losing control of the head or being knocked off balance. For a wrestler, it meant having the strength to resist an opponent’s attempts to control the head and neck, including during a chokehold.
That’s a pretty high standard for neck strength.
And while most of us aren’t preparing to step into a ring, shouldn’t we aspire to have necks that are capable of more than holding our heads up while we stare at our phones? True to form, Joe didn’t just talk about it. He created exercises and apparatus specifically to train it.
The Neck Tensometer
One of the more obscure pieces of his equipment is the Neck Tensometer, sometimes called the Neck Stretcher.
It looks almost primitive by today’s standards, but the idea behind it is anything but outdated. Using spring resistance, the Tensometer challenges the muscles responsible for controlling the head and neck through different movements.
And then there’s the Magic Circle. Most people associate it with inner thighs, but the original repertoire includes neck exercises that use the Circle’s resistance to build strength and control.
Both are wonderful examples of how comprehensive the Classical Pilates system really is. Joe understood that the neck, like every other part of the body, needs both strength and mobility.
Your Neck Was Meant to Move
Our modern world has created a problem. We spend so much time in fixed positions that we rarely challenge our necks to move through their available range, much less strengthen the muscles responsible for that movement.
We don’t need to train for a prizefight. But we should probably be training for something more demanding than scrolling.
At Evolution Pilates, we incorporate neck work into the larger Classical system, using the Magic Circle, Neck Tensometer, and other specialized apparatus when appropriate. We also have recommended neck-related products for clients who want to continue their practice at home.
Because Joe’s philosophy wasn’t about being strong enough to perform an exercise. It was about being strong enough for whatever life might throw at you.Our Neck Care Favorites
A Complete Neck Care Package
Pilates is where we start—but there are a few things we love for taking care of your neck between sessions.
RESTCLOUD Neck and Shoulder Relaxer & Cervical Traction Device
This is a favorite because it combines gentle cervical traction with support for the neck and shoulders. It’s a great tool for decompressing after a long day of sitting, driving, or staring at a screen. We like it as a complement to the movement and strengthening work we do in the studio.
Mineral Ice Extreme
Sometimes your neck and shoulders just need a little extra TLC. Mineral Ice Extreme provides a cooling sensation that we love after a long day or whenever those muscles are feeling tired and overworked.
Together, these are our neck care essentials—something to help you move it, strengthen it, decompress it, and take care of it.
Because your neck does a lot of work. It deserves a little attention, too.
[Shop our Neck Care Favorites →]
Want to work on your neck?
Ask your instructor about incorporating neck work into your next session, including the original Magic Circle exercises or the Neck Tensometer when appropriate.
Classical Pilates equipment for your home practice:
- Magic Circle / Spring Circle: A faithful reproduction of Joseph Pilates’ original Magic Circle, made with tempered spring steel and padded wooden handles.
- Neck Tensometer / Neck Stretcher: The specialized apparatus Joe designed for advanced practitioners to strengthen and stretch the neck and improve head and neck alignment.
Note: The Neck Tensometer is advanced apparatus and should be learned with qualified instruction rather than used independently.
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