I never got to that place when FMQ on my domestic. I never got very good at it either. My brain is wired to push the "pencil" not the "paper". Quilting on a rack set up is what made all the difference for me. You don't necessarily need a longarm to quilt on a rack but it does make things much easier and nicer. Grace has many racks that you can put a domestic machine on.

Feline, Yes! I too feel like I should be pushing the "pencil" instead of the "paper." Unfortunately, at 80 I don't think it makes sense for me to convert to a rack, so I'll just have to muddle along with what I've got.

Daffy

Because I get up to walk around my table to press my seams every few minutes, I don't have that problem. Sorry for you all!

I don't have tense shoulders when I am piecing either. The problem arises only when FMQ on the domestic for me. I don't have the problem when standing at the rack quilting. With me, it is all tension (and I'm not talking thread tension! LOL). I am tense when FMQ on the domestic, involuntarily so. Like Daffy Daphne, I would have to consciously think about keeping my shoulders relaxed and would constantly catch myself with my shoulders scrunched up around my ears. Even with frequent breaks it was an issue for me and still is when I decide to FMQ a small piece because I think it isn't worth the effort of loading on the rack. I don't find sitdown quilting fun and have resigned myself to that fact so don't do it. I got a longarm instead and prior to that I mostly hand quilted.

I think the OP was talking about quilting, not piecing. I will admit I sometimes find I'm wearing my shoulders as earrings as I piece, usually when I'm working on something troublesome where the seams just refuse to match!

I recently had my main machine in the shop for over a week...this machine sits in a cabinet....so I took my little portable machine and set it on top of the cabinet....yikes! wrecked my upper back and neck for about a week and a half....folks, I can not emphasize the benefit of getting yourwelf a good sewing table where you can set the machine down into the cabinet and adjust the height. I tell new quilters, that if they have to chose between getting a more expensive machine or a good sewing cabinet....go for the cabinet....you can always get a fancier machine later.....if I didn't have a cabinet....I don't think I would enjoy sewing nearly as much....and I keep my iron away from my sewing area...so I have to get up and walk and stand every so often while stitching...really helps....

I use to open my mouth when i used eye liner.
my neck gets sore so often i use my heating pad. i also hang by my fingers from the top of a door frame. well not hang really but stretch that way. helps.

Stick a note on your machine that says "Relax your shoulders.". Might sound silly, but I had to write "shoulders back and down" after months of PT due to a painful, almost frozen shoulder.

I write myself notes for so many things and put them where I have to see them.

lol, so that's how you got your name. I needed that laugh. I've been quilting all day, and I feel the same way.
My shoulders and back are killing me. I tried to get up from the chair and the muscles in my butt froze up. I went to bed 2 hours ago, and couldn't go to sleep. I kept thinking about how I'm going to quilt this big quilt. It's 2 am, eyes wide open, body aches all over. Maybe I need to just go look at the quilt again.....

This is my remedy as well. Cabernet goes very well with chocolate.