For centuries, Yoga has been deemed as one of the healthiest and effective workout regimes. Although it has its roots in India, it has made its mark be felt all across the world in the past two to three decades. Probably the reason that appeals to people around the globe about Yoga is that it takes care of your entire body alongside your mental peace and soul-fulfilment. Not to mention the fact it has almost zero side-effects.

All in all, it has more potential than you can ever count.  Every single body part can benefit from the help of Yoga. Speaking of which, let us bring into attention one body part that affects nearly people on an everyday basis – your head. Very often, you will find yourself suffering from a headache that ranges from mild to severe. It should not surprise you that the magic of Yoga extends to taking care of this problem as well.

Today, we are going to take a look at some of the Yoga exercises for headache that you can perform at the comfort of your home. So, read on to live a headache-free life.

A Guide to Yoga for Headache

Migraine, which is one of the most common forms of headache, is essentially a neurological disorder. It causes recurring headaches that range from light to moderate to high intensity. Sometimes, it effects last for a couple of hours, while there are those atrocious times when it doesn’t give you respite for continuous days.

Of course, there are numerous medicines available, but don’t you want to take the natural route? Yoga can benefit you in getting rid of headaches on a long-term basis. Take a note of the following Yoga asanas for headache and be sure to practise them regularly and diligently.

Balasana

The first one in our list of Yoga exercises for headache is Balasana. This is of great respite if your headache generates from the pain in your hips, back or torso that moves up your spine. This exercise helps in instilling a sense of calmness in you during the time of the headache.

To perform this exercise, you first need to lie on your back. Make sure your knees are raised and bent. Hold on to your thighs. If that is too uncomfortable for you, then you can even hold on to the outside edges of your legs.

You need to ensure that your spine is resting comfortably on the mat that you are lying on. Follow this up by gently rocking from side to side. This would help in increasing the stretch in your lower back and hips. Eventually, you will find yourself away from the headache as you will enter a state of relaxation.

Viparita Karanti

Next up is the Viparita Karanti, which is nothing but simply putting your legs up the wall. It is extremely beneficial since it helps in stretching your muscles in the neck and in relaxing you at the same time. Many Yoga practitioners around the world recommend this exercise to get instant relief from headache. Believe it or not, it works in just a few minutes.

For this exercise, you need to sit close to a wall and make sure that your right hip touches the wall. Next, you need to slowly lean back, turn and lie flat on your back. It should be noted that you must use a mat if you are performing this exercise on the mat to give your back the comfort it needs.

Proceed to extend your legs up the wall. Your butt must touch the wall as well. Please ensure that your feet are relaxed and placed together.

Next up, keep your hands on your stomach. If that is an issue for you, then you can also rest them on the mat.  Slowly close your eyes, drop your chin and relax your jaws. Stay in this position for three to ten minutes (depending on your comfort). While in the position, be sure to breathe in and out slowly and deeply.

Uttanasana

Uttanasana is another very popular Yoga asana for headache. Some even regard this forward-fold pose as the most basic way to get rid of painful headaches.

This asana aims at providing strength to your nervous system by increasing the supply of blood to the brain. As a result, your mind calms down easily and quickly, which adds to the reason why you should put your faith in yoga for headache.

To perform this Yoga, you need to start by standing with your legs at a hip-width distance from each other. Next up, relax your head towards the ground. If you are unable to touch the ground with your hands, then you can “bring the ground up” to you. You can do this by taking the help of any object or prop so that your body can relax.

You can even do it in the ‘ragdoll’ style wherein you need to grab opposite elbows and soften your knees. Your head and neck should be relaxed so that you can derive the most benefit from this exercise.

Adho Mukho Svanasana

Next up on our list of Yoga asanas for headache is the Adho Mukho Svanasana, which is also popularly known as the ‘Downward Facing Dog Pose’.

The reason we recommend this exercise to you is that it does a tremendous job in providing an extra flow of blood to your head. This simple action can give you the relief you need. As a result, you end up feeling energized. Let us tell you how you can perform this.

First of all, you need to start on your knees and hands. You then need to put your arms forward and push your hips upward. Essentially, this is about creating a V-like shape with your inverted body.

Proceed to let your head hang between your shoulders. Take deep breaths while you practise this pose. Stay in this position for a few minutes, depending on the level of your comfort. Don’t push yourself to the limit. Remember, these exercises are meant to comfort you, not cause you additional pain.

It is worth mentioning that this yoga exercise also helps in getting rid of back pain, stiffness, and fatigue. It does so by stretching your chest and hamstrings while also lengthening your spine.

Marjaryasana

When it comes to Yoga for headache, you must try the Marjaryasana since it is very beginner-friendly and almost anyone can do this because of its easy nature.

It helps in providing relief to the tension in your neck, shoulders and spine. Besides, it also helps in boosting circulation in your upper body.

To perform this exercise, start with your knees and hands on the ground in a table-top position. Gently round the spine up as you exhale. While inhaling, return to a neutral spine.

The basic idea is to move up all the way through your spine and spreading the disks in the process, which usually gets compressed from all the long hours of sitting in from of our computers or in a car. As such, you will find yourself relieved from those excruciating pain that comes from a headache.

Ardha Matsyendrasana

Yoga experts recommend spinal twists to people suffering from body pain since these poses help in awakening different parts of their bodies, energizing their spines, and in stimulating their digestive system. Ardha Matsyendrasana is one such exercise that helps you in those regards.

To perform this exercise, you need to keep your bottom leg either straight or bent. Your top knee must be bent and crossed over. Next, you need to try to extend your opposite arm to the outside of your foot and gently and slowly twist the back.

Repeat the same on the other side. This is one of the many Yoga exercises for headache that aims at giving a twist to your lower back which eventually helps in providing a release and in giving you the relief you are looking for.

Summary

Headaches might sound trivial but the impacts left behind by them can be devastating. Not only you are in extreme physical pain, but your personal and professional life can also hamper because of how bad your mood and temper would be due to it. Many people gulp down numerous pills to get rid of their headache. But, are they really worth it?

This is why Yoga for headache is the route that you should go for. Not only they are highly effective, but they don’t bring the side-effects of medicines or surgeries. The Yoga asanas that we have mentioned on our list are going to benefit you in more ways than you are imagining. However, we still recommend you to talk to your doctor, physical therapist and a certified Yoga trainer before performing them. As they say, you can never be too sure.

Let them know of your medical history and injuries if you have any.   Get into the calm and relaxing world of Yoga and give yourself the respite that you deserve.