Yoga for Tension-Type Headache

An anvil on your head may not exactly be an exaggeration when you are experiencing a tension-type headache. This may also be felt as having a very tight band around the head.


A tension-type headache can be really bothersome. It is often caused by stress,anxiety, depression, unbalanced activities, and poor diet. Composing 90% of primary headaches (headaches that are not caused by another disease), tension-type headaches are what most of us suffer. So when you feel that heavy weight on your head at work, perhaps around lunch time when the day is slow and the sun is at its hottest, it's most probably a tension-type headache.

So what do you do? You would probably drop by the nearby pharmacy and get a couple of aspirins. Surely enough, you might feel relieved some time after taking a pill. Tension-type headaches often respond to over-the-counter remedies. However, there is a danger in treating headaches in this manner frequently. Over-the-counter drugs may produce an effect such that the headache would recur when the effect of the drug wears off. This is called a rebound headache. Besides, taking these drugs frequently may not be very healthy to the delicate balance of substances in our body in the long term.

To prevent this unfavorable scenario, a more holistic approach must be adopted to stop having to suffer those troublesome and painful tension-type headaches. This can be done through relaxation techniques, proper diet, and psychological counseling if the underlying causes of the headaches are anxiety and depression.

When relaxation and proper diet are the things that are needed, Yoga is greatly effective in curbing those anvil-heads. Yoga Poses and Meditation can release the mind and body from the clutter and confusion of scattered thoughts and unbalanced activities that cause tension-type headaches.

The following are the Yoga Poses recommended for people who experience Tension-Type Headaches.

Easy Yoga Pose:This is one of the classic Meditative Poses and is usually performed after doing the Corpse Pose. The Easy Pose helps in straightening the spine, slowing down metabolism, promoting inner tranquility, and keeping your mind still. Neck Exercises: Many people hold tension in their necks and shoulders, leading to stiffness, bad posture, and tension headaches. Yoga practice can ease tension, increase flexibility, and tone the muscles. Learn some Neck Exercises in this section. Shoulder Stretch Yoga Pose:Shoulder Stretches are great in relieving stress and tension on your shoulders, as well as your entire upper back. Practice them daily for several weeks and notice the changes. Learn some basic stretches for the shoulders in this section. Sun Salutation Yoga Pose: The Sun Salutation or Surya Namaskar is a Yoga Pose which limbers up the whole body in preparation for the Yoga Asanas. It is a graceful sequence of twelve Yoga positions performed as one continuous exercise. Learn how to practice the Sun Salutation in this section. Half Spinal Twist Yoga Pose: If done properly, the Half Spinal Twist lengthens and strengthens the spine. It is also beneficial for your liver, kidneys, as well as adrenal glands. Practice this Yoga Pose under the supervision of a Yoga instructor. In this section, learn how to perform the Half Spinal Twist. Cat Yoga Pose: The Cat Yoga Pose teaches you to initiate movement from your center and to coordinate your movement and breath. These are two of the most important themes in Yoga practice. Keep in mind that the Cat Pose may not be advisable if you have any chronic or recent back pain or injury. Wind Relieving Yoga Pose: The term Pavanamuktasana comes from the Sanskrit word 'pavana' which means air or wind and 'mukta' which means freedom or release. The Wind Relieving Pose works mainly on the digestive system. specifically, it helps in eliminating excess gas in the stomach. Corpse Yoga Pose: The Corpse Yoga Pose is considered as a classic relaxation Yoga Pose and is practiced before or in between Asanas as well as a Final Relaxation. While it looks deceptively simple, it is actually difficult to perform. Learn more on how to do it with the help of this article. Relaxation Yoga Pose: The first step in Yoga practice is to learn how to relax your body and mind properly. Learn how to do the corpse pose and other relaxation techniques. Know more about the art of physical, mental, and spiritual relaxation in this section. Anuloma Viloma Breathing Technique: The basic Breathing Exercises and Techniques will form the foundation of your daily Yoga practice. Learn how to do the Alternate Nostril Breathing Technique. Just make sure that you know the proper way of breathing before doing this exercise.

A Yoga lifestyle also includes a proper diet that, once adopted, can nourish the body with what it really needs. On the whole, not only are those tension-type headaches reduced, even eliminated through Yoga, but you will also feel revitalized and refreshed all over - and all these without the nasty side effects drugs may produce. 

The body has a natural way of coping with illnesses, and this is where Yoga draws its principles from and what it enhances. Nature, including our own, knows best.