In today's fast-paced world everybody suffers from stress and anxiety which leads them to migraines at one point. Migraines are an exhausting, disheartening, and discouraging headache that is affecting thousands of peoples worldwide. The people who are suffering from this intense crippling headache know about discomfort caused by migraines. While there are many temporary treatments available in the market yoga offers holistic benefits and takes you to the permanent relief and helps to manage migraines.
In this article, we will delve into the benefits of yoga for migraine and we will also explore physical exercises to diminish your symptoms of migraines.
The Science Behind Yoga for Migraine Relief
Let's explore how yoga and corresponding exercise helps to reduce your migraine but before we should know the science behind how yoga can help to heal and manage migraines.
While doing yoga we follow specific postures and practice controlled breathing exercise and meditation exercise which somewhere affects the regularity and potency of migraines and helps to manage it.
Lets see some key reasons why yoga is beneficial for in migraines:
Stress Reduction: Stress is a very common reason for headache which in long term leads to migraine. Yoga exercises like breathing and relaxing yoga postures and strategies help to lower stress levels and reduce the chances of migraines strikes.
Improved Blood Circulation: Many yoga poses promote better blood flow, helping to prevent the constriction of blood vessels that often leads to migraines.
Improved Blood Circulation: Studies have proven that yoga exercises are best to improve bodily functions and blood circulations. Which prevents blood vessels from narrowing and promotes good blood flow which directly helps to better brain health.
Muscle Relaxation: Stiff neck and shoulders subsidize migraines by unease of blood flow to the brain. Yoga really helps to relax and strengthen these areas and decreases tension related headaches.
Enhanced Respiratory Control: Yoga practices like Pranayama, Anulom-Vilom, Bhramari improves your respiratory power, and also oxygenates the brain and reduces the chances of migraines.
Connection with Mind & Body: Regular practice of meditation and mindfulness keeps you relaxed, adapting it as a habit will definitely help you manage stress of work and others. And it will work like “precaution is better than cure” and you will be free from headache and migraines.
Yoga Poses for Migraine Relief :-
There are many awesome yoga poses which help to reduce migraine pain. Let's checkout some best yoga poses but it's necessary to practice these poses regularly for better results and if you are dealing with severe migraine then you should consult a healthcare professional.
1. Child's Pose (Balasana)
Instructions:
Kneel on the ground, keeping your knees hip-width apart and your big toes in contact.
By lowering your forehead looking at the ground while lean back on your heels and try to reach your hands forward.
Breathe deeply and hold for 1-2 minutes.
Child pose is an awesome option and a relaxing posture that helps to reduce stiffness in neck and back which will be an excellent option to reduce migraine pain.
2. Cat-Cow Stretch
Instructions:
Knees bowed, beginning in a tabletop posture.
Elevate your head and tailbone in cow pose and inhale.
Exhale as you round your back and tuck your chin (Cat Pose).
Repeat this flow for 1-2 minutes.
The Cat-Cow stretch helps release tension in the spine and neck, reducing the likelihood of a migraine.
3. Downward-Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)
Instructions:
Start on your hands and knees.
Lift your hips, straighten your legs, and form an inverted V shape.
Focusing on deep breaths, hold for a minute or two.
Downward-Facing Dog is excellent for improving blood circulation to the brain and relieving tension in the neck and shoulders.
4. Legs Up the Wall (Viparita Karani)
Instructions:
Sit next to a wall with your side body touching it.
And then by lying on your back and lift your legs up to the wall.
Rest your arms at your sides and close your eyes.
Stay in this pose for 5-10 minutes.
This restorative pose helps in relaxing the nervous system, reducing stress, and promoting better blood flow.
5. Bridge Pose (Setu Bandhasana)
Instructions:
Bend your knees and turn on your back while keeping your feet Hip-width apart.
While maintaining your feet and shoulders on the ground, raise your hips.
Hold for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
The Bridge Pose strengthens the back, neck, and shoulder muscles, providing relief from tension-related migraines.
6. Alternate Nostril Breathing (Nadi Shodhana)
Instructions:
Sit comfortably with your spine straight.
Use your right thumb to close your right nostril and inhale through the left.
Exhale through the right nostril while pinching the left nostril shut with your ring finger.
Repeat this process, alternating nostrils for 3-5 minutes.
Nadi Shodhana is a calming breathing exercise that can reduce stress and prevent migraine triggers.
In the bottom line:
There is no doubt that Yoga can be your best option in managing migraines. By adapting this yoga exercise in your daily life you can achieve overall health goals. And you will also experience depletion of frequency and potency of migraine attacks within you.
And the point you should note is that yoga cannot be an alternative for your medical treatment. It helps you to fight migraines with ease.
Consult your healthcare professional and find a best advisory plan in the journey of your migraine treatment.
By including these yoga practices in your day to day life will not only manage your headache and migraine but also boost your overall health, physical fitness, and immunity.
So here you can start your journey towards a migraine free lifestyle and cuddle your healing power of yoga.