Yoga for Headaches
Oct 15, 20
Everyone knows how draining a headache can be. Everyone has had a bad headache at least once, that kept them from enjoying their day or even made them sick!
If you are suffering from consistent headaches, your posture, sitting at a desk all day, or being excessively physical might contribute to your pain. While you can treat the symptoms with pain medications and rest, this might not be enough to help you feel better consistently.
Thankfully, there are yoga poses that have been made to relieve headaches. Doing five minutes of these poses each day can help you to remain headache-free, no matter what life throws at you!
Mountain Pose
This classic pose requires standing straight up with the eyes closed. You will direct your body to be in correct alignment with shoulders softly back and hips right beneath shoulders. Feel your feet rooted to the floor and extend your body upwards softly as if reaching for the sky without force. This pose can be made even more effective if you spread your toes and grip the floor. This pose, while simple, helps your body to relax and stand straight and keeps you from breaking up the flow of energy in your body. Hold this pose for 5 minutes and breathe deeply.
Seated Twist
This pose works best when you are seated on a chair with your feet flat on the ground. Make sure your seat bones are pressing straight down into the seat of the chair and exhale softly. Reach your right arm to the back of the chair and your left hand to your knee and twist softly. Stay in this position for 5 breaths, counting slowly. Return to the centre and place hands on your knees. Breathe slowly for 5 counts. Twist the other way and breath slowly through five counts.
Forward Bend
To do this pose:
- Sit on the floor.
- Sit facing a chair and lean forward to allow your forehead to rest on the chair.
- Cross your legs or straighten them for a deeper stretch.
- Drop your chin to your chest and breathe out any tension that you are feeling.
- Hold until your head feels heavy, and your back feels like it has relaxed.
Downward Dog
This centring pose is a classic that is good for your legs, back and neck. Place the feet firmly onto the floor and then lean forward to walk the hands out in front of you. Reach your hands forward just until you feel a stretch and allow your head to hang. Press your palms into the floor and your feet into the floor and breathe deeply.
These great exercises do not take long to perform and when added to your daily routine, can spare you from back and neck pain and also from headaches. If you are tired of struggling with the discomfort and need some support to help break up the cycle of pain, these exercises will get you back to working out or even just working, without daily headaches!
