Yoga Poses for Relieving Tension Headaches

You're standing in the aisle at the grocery store, picking out your family's meals for the week, when all of a sudden it hits you. You can barely concentrate and your whole head is aching. It seems to affect your whole body and probably your mood as well. That, my friend, is what a tension headache may feel like. At least that is how it feels for me. Everyone's experience will be slightly different, but that is the gist of it.

Being that I have a heart condition that goes hand in hand with stress, I have dealt with tension headaches many times over. Some people choose to pop an aspirin or ibuprofen for a headache, but in my experience, this does absolutely zero for a tension headache. So, I had to look to alternative methods of relief. Yoga was my first instinct, since I have used it for so many other situations. I quickly discovered that there are a variety of yoga poses that help relieve a tension headache. Here are my two favorites, along with some extra tips.

Bharadvajasana I (Bharadvaja's Twist)

This is a seated yoga pose. To do Bharadvaja's Twist, start out sitting on the floor with a straightened back and your legs positioned straight out in front of you. Now, draw your legs in at one side, positioning yourself on the opposite side of your buttocks. Beginners should place a thin pillow or folded blanket under the buttocks for support, to avoid serious injury. Your feet should be slightly jutting out to the other side, right at the thigh. One foot should be placed in the arch of the other. Now inhale and lift from the torso, straightening your upper body. Exhale and twist your upper body so that you are facing in the direction of the side of the buttocks you are using for support. Hold this pose through the breath for 30-60 seconds. Repeat on the other side.

Halasana (Plough Pose)

The first step in Halasana requires starting in Salamba Sarvangasana, also known as the supported shoulderstand. Once you are in the shoulderstand pose, bend from the hips to slowly lower your toes to the floor. The toes should extend out beyond your head with the legs fully extended and your waist should be level to your shoulders. Lift your thighs toward the ceiling while drawing in the pelvis. Use your toes for support as well as the act of pulling your chin inward. Press the backs of your arms down into the floor for support while using your hands to press against the lower back toward the ceiling. This pose can be done from 60 seconds up to 5 minutes.

Handy hints for tension relieving yoga

-- If you feel lightheaded, it's best to discontinue the exercise and consult your physician.

-- Accurately using the breathing techniques, along with the poses aids in quicker relief of the tension headache.

-- Focus only on the poses and the breathing. Clear your mind of anything else.

-- If you find the poses too difficult, try looking for beginner variations.

*The author is simply a yoga enthusiast and is not a licensed professional. Anything contained herein is for informational purposes only. Always consult a properly licensed physician before starting or stopping any health or exercise regimen.

More from Lyn:

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Therapeutic Yoga for Stress Relief, Anxiety and Depression