Migraines are more intense than common headaches. They’re typically characterized by a throbbing pain on one side of the head. They’re often accompanied by nausea, dizziness, and sensitivity to light and sound. Migraines can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days. If you are one of the many people who experience migraine attacks, you would know that when you dealing with something so crippling, sometimes even moving a limb to get a drink could seem like a climb up Mount Everest. Physical exertion has the ability to trigger migraines or even make it worse. This makes yoga with its gentle nature, a good alternative as compared to more active exercises.
Yoga can provide more than just physical fitness. It can bring calm and peace to your mind and body, as well as help with ailments such as anxiety, depression, and pain. Not only is yoga a holistic approach to fighting migraines as they’re happening, it’s also a proactive approach to reduce the pain. According to a study, it was shown that people suffering from migraine who practice yoga therapy for 30 minutes, 5-6 times weekly recorded significantly less intense migraine symptoms and fewer attacks.
Overall, yoga improved the cardiac autonomic balance. Disturbances in the autonomic nervous system and in the regulation of the circulatory system are associated with migraines. If balance is restored, the likelihood of a migraine is reduced.
Specific yoga poses can target tension and stress, which may be contributing to your migraines. Certain poses can help boost circulation and improve blood flow to your brain.This may lessen any pain or throbbing sensations that you’re having.
Some poses which will help in reducing migraine intensity and frequency are as follows:
Hastapadasana (Standing Forward Bend)
Setu Bandhasana (Bridge Pose)
Shishuasana (Child Pose)
Marjariasana (Cat Stretch)
Paschimottanasana (Two-legged Forward Bend)
Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog Pose)
Padmasana (Lotus Pose)
Shavasana (Corpse Pose)