One place you might not have thought of?
Yoga can have profound physiological and psychological effects.
Asanas can also help correct muscle imbalances, and reduce muscular tension.
Mindfulness meditation can help rewire the brain vianeuroplasticity.
Martone-Snell says this kind of breathwork also improves oxygenation of the body and can alleviate pain.
So how can you combine all three in yoga for headaches and migraine attacks?
Arielle Martone, DPT, NCS, is a physical therapist, certified yoga instructor, and owner of Find Your Way Mama.
The first important distinction is between primary and secondary headaches.
With a primary headache, the headache itself is the main problem.
Tension headaches are the mildest of the group but can still be very uncomfortable, she says.
They are often described as dull and achy or throbbing across or around the head.
They are often accompanied by muscle tenderness in the head, neck, and shoulders.
Migraine attacks with headaches are typically on one side of the face and are described as pulsating and severe.
They are often accompanied by increased sensitivity to light, sound, and smells.
Some migraines will have an aura prior to the pain, explains Martone-Snell.
The least common and most severe jot down of primary headache is a cluster headache.
Arielle Martone, DPT, NCS, is a physical therapist, certified yoga instructor, and owner of Find Your Way Mama.
Instead, focus on meditation and breathwork while incorporating some gentle restorative poses.
Eagle arms (Garudasana)
Martone-Snell says this pose stretches your back and shoulders.
Supine spinal twist (Supta Matsyendrasana)
Martone-Snell says this asana stretches your neck and back.
This will act as a massage to ease tension in the suboccipital muscles, she says.
A consistent yoga practice can be a wonderful non-pharmacological addition to treatment for migraine attacks and headaches.
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