Dealing with a headache is not easy. It can mess around with your everyday routine, and to make things worse, that debilitating pain doesn't easily subside even when you're taking rest. Migraine is a different ballgame altogether. It has no cause and no cure, however, genetic predisposition do come into play. The excruciating pain can even compromise one's efficiency and productivity.
In yogic practice, all forward bending postures are based on exhalation. Headaches are usually cured by deriving ways to supply extra oxygen to the brain. It therefore calls for practices that involve inhalation - hence pranayama becomes an important tool in tackling migraine."In case of any headache, your brain nerves get less prana (oxygen or current), therefore it pains. Pranayam is excellent for curing migraine," explained Yogi Anoop from the Chaitanya Foundation, Mediyoga.When you suffer from migraine, your ability to stay alert goes for a toss. Being alert is essential for various functions of the body, including your bowel and intestinal activity. Experts have chalked out a correlation between frequent headaches and irritable bowel. This explains why yoga calls for all backward bending posture to heal migraine and headaches. When you go into backward bending postures, your diaphragm expands, lungs open up and you inhale more; this results in greater oxygen to your brain and relieves you from the pain. Also, there is no pressure on your abdominal region.
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Postures for Instant Relief1. Bhujangasana or the Cobra PoseApart from relieving your headache, the asana is extremely beneficial for your spinal health. It is one of the primary positions in Surya Namaskar. Here's how to get into it.
2. Ustrasana or the Camel Pose
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4. The Shoulder Stand or Sarvangasana
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"Attempt breathing techniques with a piece of jaggery placed in your mouth. Jaggery is a source of sugar and iron and when teamed with oxygen (while breathing) it increases prana, energy in your brain. This will relieve you drastically," noted Yogi Anoop.You can also try anulom vilom in case the pain persists in the entire head. Single nostril breathing helps in tackling one-sided migraine - practice left-to-left breathing for right-sided pain and vice versa.All asanas should be practiced under strict supervision of an expert. Consult your doctor before any of the above mentioned postures.
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