Yoga For Headache Relief – 3 Easy Poses To Conquer Headaches Forever
Do you suffer from headaches on an almost daily basis? Perhaps you are taking medications to relieve the pain but you find it just isn’t working. Would you like to find out how to alleviate headaches naturally without relying on pain killers all the time? It may surprise you to find out that you can practice yoga for headache relief and start feeling better right away. Don’t worry if you aren’t very flexible right now-the poses I’ll show you are easy enough for beginners to do. Plus, the more you practice the more limber you’ll be and the poses will become easier.
So how exactly does yoga help to ease headaches? Most headaches are caused by muscle tension, usually due to stress or bad posture (or more often both). This tension is what constricts the blood flow to the head and causes pain. The pills you may take to relieve your headache help to ease this tension and restore normal blood flow. Certain yoga postures have the same relaxing effect on the body. Inverted poses in which all or part of your body is upside down help to increase blood circulation to the head and neck which helps to relax the muscles and relieve pain. Also, poses that help stretch your back and neck will relieve the tension as well. Lastly, doing yoga will help improve your posture, and when you are standing and sitting straighter you put less strain on your neck and back which means less frequent headaches.
You might be wondering now which poses would be the best to try first. There are many poses and it can be quite difficult to figure out which ones are the best for headaches and which can make them worse. I’ve narrowed the list down to these three:
* Downward Facing Dog – Kneel down on your hands and knees, then lift up onto the balls of your feet. You should look like a triangle from the side. Hold for about 10 breaths.
* Bridge Pose – Lie on your back with your knees bent upwards. Slowly lift your back up and place your palms under your hips for support. Your body should make a slightly arched diagonal from the knees to the neck. Hold for about 10 breaths or as long as comfortable.
* Half Shoulder Stand – Lie on your back, and slowly bring your knees to your chest. Straighten your legs and lift your lower back up, putting your hands under your back for support. Keep your legs stretched out an a 45 degree angle. Hold for 30 breaths then slowly come back down.
Don’t worry if the poses sound daunting, they actually aren’t very complicated. However, if you do have any concerns, be sure to talk with your doctor first before trying them.