yoga with grace
  • Home
  • About
  • Pam's Blog
  • Essential Oils
  • Mission & Vision Statements
  • Organize a Class/Workshop
  • Biography
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Chair Yoga Teacher Training

Headaches and Yoga

8/20/2013

0 Comments

 
Picturefrom www.images.zaazu.com
   One of my students has asked me to research the use of yoga for migraines. Everything I have found is positive.  Even if yoga was not specifically mentioned as a treatment or preventative, it's components, like breathing and muscle relaxation, were. 
   To start, I found some great websites about migraines.  The U.S. Department on Health and Human Services has a great article that answers common questions about migraines.  The May Clinic has and article that discusses symptoms, disease process, triggers, complications and treatment.  Livestrong also has many resources related to migraines and headaches.  See the resource list below.
   Migraines and headaches are triggered by many sources.  The practice of yoga can ease the sources, preventing or lessening headaches (in strength and frequency) and ease symptoms once a headache starts.
Benefits of Yoga: 
Breathing (Pranayama):  Yoga practice includes time for breathing which may relax our body, releasing tension and bringing us to a quieter place.
Mudras:  Yoga includes mudras, which are hand postures, that relax our shoulder/neck area releasing tension and easing pain. The "gesture of the great head" is a mudra that along with breathing may ease headaches.
Self Awareness:  As we participate in yoga, we become more aware of our bodies - how they move, react and feel.  With this increased awareness we are better able to sense the signs of an impending headache.  We can then participate in preventative actions.  We will also be able to tell our medical practitioners more about our headaches - how they begin, and what triggers them.
Relaxation: Relaxation is an important part of preventing and relieving headaches.  It eases tension, allows us to power down and makes us more resilient to life's challenges.  Svasana, resting pose, is a great example of relaxation in yoga.  During svasana we are turning ourselves away from our daily routines,  in a quiet and darkened room giving us a deep sense of rest.  
Posture:  In yoga we learn posture and body alignment.  Improved alignment and relaxation of shoulders, neck and head will ease tension and put less pressure on those muscles that otherwise might cause headaches.
   There are a few things to be aware of in yoga practice that might instigate headaches or make them worse.  When in a yoga posture, avoid hyper extending the neck.  Instead extend out through the crown of the head. "Cobra" is a good example of a pose where there is a tendency to hyperextend the neck.  Some references said to avoid downward facing poses (downward facing dog) during headaches, others said it was okay.  So it's probably good to listen to your body. Yoga as Medicine suggests being careful when using pranayama (breathing) with "long retentions of the breath and with fixed ratios of time spent inhaling and exhaling."  They also stated using vigorous breath practices like Bhastrika breath could be problematic.
Poses:  Restorative and more meditative postures are most helpful with headache prevention.  For example, "feet up the wall" with a bolster under the hips.  It may be hard to jump right into a practice of restorative poses, after a busy day, so it is suggested to do more active asana first, then move into a relaxing, quiet practice.  When a headache is present, doing a quiet, meditative practice may be best.
   In the end it is important to listen to your body, work with your medical practitioners, do a little research, find a yoga teacher you feel comfortable with and work out what is best for you.  Below is a list of references that you might find helpful. 
   Nameste!

Resources!
"On a Roll" www.yogajournal.com  - how to 'melt' tightness and headache relief
www.livestrong.com
"Migraine - Frequently Asked Questions"  www.womanshealth.gov - Dept. of Health and Human Services
"Migraine" www.mayoclinic.com 
Yoga as Medicine by Timothy McCall MD  www.yogajournal.com
Mudras for Healing and Transformation  by Joseph and Lillian LePage

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    I enjoy yoga as it brings peace to my life.  Teaching yoga has brought joy to my life and given me a chance to encourage others in learning yoga.

    Archives

    July 2020
    March 2020
    December 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    April 2018
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    November 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013

    Categories

    All
    Adaptive Yoga
    Ahimsa
    Arthritis
    Asana
    Breathing
    Cartoon
    Chair Yoga
    Challenges
    Christian
    Cognitions
    Compassion
    Feet
    Focus
    Food
    Fun
    Giving Thanks
    Goddess Pose
    Hands
    Healing Pain With Yoga
    Helping Others
    Jesus
    Light
    Massage
    Meditation
    Memory
    Mountain Pose
    Mudra
    Mudras
    Music
    Postures
    Prana
    Pregnancy
    Presences
    Reflection
    Seniors
    Shoulders
    Ski Yoga
    Stories
    Sutras
    Undoing
    Video
    Welcoming
    Welcoming Others
    Yoga Class
    Yoga For Seniors
    Yoga In Schools
    Yoga Mats
    Yoga Practice
    Youth

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • About
  • Pam's Blog
  • Essential Oils
  • Mission & Vision Statements
  • Organize a Class/Workshop
  • Biography
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Chair Yoga Teacher Training