Headaches can appear for many reasons, stress, poor rest or nutrition, worries… When this happens, our first idea is to take medicines that help us alleviate it, but the truth is that there are effective natural remedies that can eliminate that pain without having to ingest anything. In the last case it is good to resort to medicines, but before resorting to chemistry we can try playing sports or developing yoga postures.
On a physical level, yoga can help us lose weight, perform maintenance exercises for the body, improve flexibility, breathing and blood circulation. But it is also a beneficial practice on an emotional level, since it reduces stress and tension, helps us get to know our body a little better, spend time relaxing and improve our concentration.
And of all these benefits of said sport or practice, there is also the possibility that it will cure a headache. Don’t you believe us? Try any of these 7 simple and effective postures, and we are sure that you will repeat them every time you have a problem. We start with yoga for headaches!
Yoga poses that soothe a headache
Stress and tension are two of the headache triggers. Although it may not seem like it and we do not attribute it to it, many times it is so. And for this very reason it is important to practice yoga. Learning to relax and release tension won’t do us any harm and if, along the way, we manage to eliminate pain, much better! Therefore, when you have the first symptoms, it is best to find a quiet place (or as quiet as possible), put on relaxing music, find a mat and get ready to perform the following yoga movements.
Neck and back stretch
How is the posture? The first thing you should do is sit cross-legged on the mat and stretch your back. To start, fold your right arm behind it, then tuck your head in toward your left shoulder. To do this, help yourself with your left hand but always without forcing. When performing this movement, you will notice how the right arm and the head are stretched in opposite directions. Perform the same exercise on the opposite side.
Then, without bending your back, lower your head until your chin touches your chest. Do it carefully, without haste and controlling the breaths so that they are rhythmic. Finally, stand up and stretch your arms up, as if you wanted to touch the ceiling. Interlock your hands and stretch further if you can (watch your feet, don’t stand on your toes).
Balasana
How is the posture? Get on your knees on the floor with your buttocks resting on your heels. Lean your body forward (without lifting your buttocks off your heels) and stretch your arms. There are those who prefer to stretch them forward, with their head between their arms, and there are those who will find it more comfortable to lean their forehead forward and their arms to the sides of the body. Hold for several minutes and return to the starting position to rest and repeat the exercise again.
Which has benefits? It is an embryonic posture that helps us relax in a really impressive way. Breathing here is vital as we must feel it deep and relaxed. In addition, it will calm our nervous system and reduce cervical pressure.
Supta Badha Konasana
How is the posture? To compare it with something known, we can look at the moment we go to bed when we have a cold and cannot breathe through our nose. Do you have to put pillows on your back to lean over? This is precisely the position we seek here. Thus, you will have to place a folded blanket on top of your mat and then several pillows.
Lie on your back, in a reclining position, and stretch your arms out to your sides. For their part, the legs should be open and semi-flexed. If necessary, to avoid forcing the posture, put some blankets under your knees, because we are not looking to gain flexibility but to be comfortable.
Which has benefits? This posture is known as the lying goddess and it is used for meditation and relaxation of the body. We will be able to concentrate solely on emptying and filling the lungs in a leisurely manner and thus clear up any other concern for 5 or 10 minutes.
Prasarita Padottanasana
How is the posture? To perform this posture, we must stand up with our feet parallel and our backs straight. Next, we move our heels out to establish our balance point and stretch down (always with a straight back). The palms of our hands should touch the ground and the head should be upside down, looking at what we have behind us, although you can also close your eyes.
Which has benefits? Surely you know (because you have heard it) that it is not advisable to spend a long time upside down. We will maintain this position for only a few seconds but, for this, you must be focused on it. You must feel how the blood waters your head and clears all worries.
Wide angle pose
How is the posture? It is similar to the previous one with the difference that, this time, we will open our legs as much as we can to try to support not only the palms of our hands but also our head. Be careful, support subtly because we do not want to put all the weight of the body on it. We will form a triangle between our palms and our head, where the first support most of the weight.
Which has benefits? Like the previous pose, this asana helps blood flow, stretch and relax the body.
Viparita karani
How is the posture? He finds an area near a wall, lie down and place something comfortable on the lower back. Then, raise your legs at a 90º angle and bring them closer to the wall until the back of the leg touches it. Open your hands and relax for 10 minutes. Without mobile, without thinking about anything, just breathing.
Which has benefits? Again it is a posture (known as the mature posture) that helps with relaxation and breathing but also with blood flow. Therefore, it is an exercise that is repeated a lot when we feel dizzy, with low blood pressure or have menstrual pains. Do not lose sight of it because it will help you on more than one occasion.
Adho Mukha Svanasana
How is the posture? If you have ever practiced yoga, you will know this posture very well. Known as the dog asana, at first it will cost you a bit to do it but the idea is that (after practicing it so much) it ends up being a form of relaxation and not tension.
It consists of forming an acute angle with our legs and our arms. That is to say, with the feet a little apart, we will bend the body at the hips and we will lean on the palms of the hands with the arms stretched out. We will put our head in our hands, in such a way that it is looking at the knees. Hold the position breathing deeply.
Which has benefits? This posture has many benefits for our body. For starters, it improves blood circulation and releases tension. In addition to allowing us to improve posture, relieve back pain, improve digestion and gain flexibility.
And you, do you know any other yoga posture for headaches? Try any of the above, and you’ll see how the headaches will disappear.