Headaches

Published on February 11, 2009

During a headache yoga postures and pranayama can help alleviate pain and release tension and stress. Practice in a calming environment with low lights and soft music. Finish your yoga practice with shavasana using an eye pillow or folded small towel over the eyes. Start your shavasana with Dirga pranayama – slow deep breathing in the belly and chest.

Talk to your doctor if you are having more than 2-3 headaches per week, or if a bad headache lasts for several days. Migraines and cluster headaches can be helped with yoga, but you must have the supervision and approval of your doctor.

Yoga Postures
Yoga postures will release tension in neck and shoulders, increase circulation to head, stimulate the nervous system, and help alleviate pain.  Use yoga poses from our complete list of Postures for Headaches.

Pranayama
Use Dirga, Ujjayi and Nadi Sodhana Pranayamas to calm the mind, relax the body and to reduce stress.

Meditation
Meditation reduces stress, and calms the mind.  Use one of the following by itself and/or at the beginning and end of your yoga practice: Yoga Meditation or Third Eye Meditation.

Articles
Yoga Rx for Headaches
Kundalini yoga for Headaches
Standing on Your Headache
Yoga cure for Headaches

Books and Videos
Yoga: the Path to Holistic Health
Yoga as Medicine
Yoga Therapy

Web Resources
Guide to Headaches and Migraines
10 tips to reduce Headaches

Yoga is not a substitute for conventional western medication; please consult your medical professional before starting a yoga practice.

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One response to “Headaches”

  1. Heather Fulford Avatar
    Heather Fulford

    I am going to state this yoga lifestyle asap! I was glad to learn that yoga helps headaches

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Timothy Burgin Avatar
About the author
Timothy Burgin is a Kripalu & Pranakriya trained yoga instructor living and teaching in Asheville, NC. Timothy has studied and taught many styles of yoga and has completed a 500-hour Advanced Pranakriya Yoga training. Timothy has been serving as the Executive Director of YogaBasics.com since 2000. He has authored two yoga books and has written over 500 articles on the practice and philosophy of yoga. Timothy is also the creator of Japa Mala Beads and has been designing and importing mala beads since 2004.
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