How do you know when you have reached the full stretch?

Checking with our expert, here's what he says: In the initial stretch to the side, go as far as you can, without straining, then tilt the head up slowly to as far as is possible--again without straining. Tune in to your body, stay relaxed and breathe slowly. Never over do it.

Thank you.

I always do neck stretches, but never this way, I actually heard a "good" pop and my neck felt much looser. Thanks! Will share with the students in my kundalini yoga classes

I suffer a lot from tension headaches and I have tried a lot of things and other stretches that I thought were good, until this one! This is the very best! Thank you SO much! I was just beginning to feel pain and it vanished now. From now on whenever I feel it coming on, I'm doing this exercise right away!

I do not understand how you can turn your head to the right while resisting and pulling to the left with the left hand. Can anyone explain?

Where it gets a little complicated to explain is when you are bending your head to the left, you then stop and hold it, while gently pushing with your head, to the right and tilting the chin upward (we've added this about the chin, for clarification). As previously stated, go slow, don't force anything and be aware of your limits. Hope this helps.