No muscle group when activated brings about the feeling of aliveness that is brought about by a well worked neck.
In a pinch hand self resisted isometrics will do, but this while building significant strength does add tension at rest over time. You can neck isometric your way to migraines if this is what you train daily for too many days in a row.
(Neck harness can cause similar. I’ve come to like it best as a feat of strength, and not as a builder of strength. I prefer the wrestler and yoga style neck work.)
It’s better to more regularly do variants with more range of motion, and/or that build looseness for longevity reasons.
I prefer the following as neck work staple, and neck work SHOULD be a staple :
Throw a pillow or towel on the floor, and from your knees do front neck bridge variants ; front to back, “around the world” (rotating 360° each direction), and side to side. For these the forehead is the main point of contact.
After enough reps have been done (do the right amount, use your own judgement) place your hands on the floor, and kick up into a headstand. Hold it for awhile.
(I usually count to 250 or 300, which while counting under load isn’t nearly as long as one would expect. Range is 100 count to 500 count, with occasional timed sets to keep me honest about time held.)
Nothing keeps the neck healthy, mobile, and strong (while building size) like this simple floor based neck routine.
The feeling immediately afterwards is glorious…you feel vigorous, full of vitality, and deeply primal.
If you’re currently doing neck work give this a shot. If you’re not currently doing neck work start…by giving this a shot, and making it habit.
I can tell you this ; the headstand has likely kept me alive, and that front bridge work from the knees is great “feel the muscle” type work especially for shoring up the gaps in strength left by the headstand, and accelerating hypertrophy.
-J