Yoga for Migraines

Yoga For Migraines is a gentle, healing yoga and pranayama practice to help support you when you have a headache or a migraine. It is also a great practice for those seeking regular self care, no headache required to do this session. Avoid life’s headaches by practicing these poses for 20 min most days. The yoga poses listed can be done anytime and are especially beneficial for reducing or preventing migraine.

Tips for Reducing Migraines

Reducing your triggers can go a long way in preventing migraine.

• Identify your triggers
• Eat healthfully and regularly, don’t skip meals
• Get enough sleep, without oversleeping
• Keep a regular sleep schedule
• Stay well hydrated
• Exercise regularly
• Rest during and after a migraine, avoid overexertion
• Reduce your stress response
• Use meditation, hypnosis, or biofeedback

Ten Yoga Poses for Migraine Relief

Child’s Pose: resting belly and chest on knees with chin tucked and arms reaching forward. Use a bolster to support the head and reduce tension on the neck. Deeply relaxing and alleviates pressure on cervical vertebra.

Downward Dog Pose: on hands and feet with behind up in the air, making a 90 degree angle at the hips, hands and feet flat on floor if possible. Reduces pressure on the spine and neck, opens vertebra, and elongates spinal column.

Standing Forward Bend – Standing with even weight through the feet, or weight very slightly forward into the toes. Big toes touch, heels are slightly apart. Keep the tailbone tucked under, allow the spine to bend forward. Tuck the chin gently in towards the chest, lengthen the back of the neck. Gently work the palms towards the earth, fingertips in line with the heels. Relax and breathe.

Wide Angle Standing Forward Bend – Feet are wide. Press the toes firmly into the mat. Stretch the mat apart with your feet. Tuck the tailbone under, ground the sitting bones, lengthen the lower back. Take your hands to your ankles and bend your elbows, assist gently with your arms to draw the back of the head to touch the earth. Chin tucks in towards the chest. Gaze towards the navel. Head can rest on bolster if needed.

Head to Knee Pose – Sit with legs straight in front. Tuck the right heel into the groin, and uncurl the toes out from the left thigh. Press the sitting bones into the earth and lift the spine long into the sky, inhale the arms up above the head, then exhale bend forward to touch the toes of the left foot. Turn the navel gently out towards the left side. Chin gently tucks in towards the chest, lengthen the back of your neck. Forehead towards the shin. Both eyes and jaw relax. Then swap sides.

Seated Forward Bend – Sit with legs stretch straight out in front. Flex your toes back towards you. Big toes touch, heels are slightly apart. Press the sitting bones into the earth, lift the spine taller. Inhale the arms up into the sky, then exhale bend forward reaching the hands towards the toes or past the feet. Chin towards the chest, lengthen the back of the neck. Shoulders forward past the ears, and armpits towards the thighs. Throat relaxes, breath flowing.

Twist – Sit with both knees bent pointing towards the sky, then sweep the right leg through the left. Then turn the navel out towards the left side, then turn the chest, then turn the head and neck, and then the eyes. Then if you like you can assist with the right elbow against the outside of the left leg, and the left hand on the floor behind your back. Lift your left ears towards the sky slightly and tuck your chin in.

Upward Facing Dog Pose – With the hands back by the hips, fingers spread, index finger pointing forward, extend and lift through the spine. Then press the shoulders downward while straightening the arms and pushing the palms into the earth. Push the groin towards the hands, and pull with the hands towards the hips. Push the tops of the feet into the earth and strengthen through the buttocks and thighs. Without moving the hands roll the biceps and shoulders outward. Keep the front of the abdomen firm, but the sides relaxed. Finally tilt the chin up, throat forward, eyes back.

Bridge Pose – Lay on your back. Bend you knees and place your feet to the floor. Draw your heels close to your buttocks, your feet are hip width apart or narrower. Toes turn in slightly. Stretch your fingers towards your heels, and shoulders away from your ears. Press the feet firmly into the earth and slowly lift the pelvis into the sky. Tuck the tailbone under. Tuck the chin gently in towards the chest, lengthen the back of the neck. Look gently towards the tip of the nose or close your eyes. Care is required for the lower back, aim to stretch both the abdominal area and the lower back, lengthening the spine away from your head. If you like you can interlace the fingers behind your back and squeeze your palms together, straighten your elbows and wiggle your shoulders and shoulder blades towards each other, opening the front of your heart, create space through the chest. Don’t allow the knees and thighs to drift apart, keep them one fist width distance.