The regular practice of yoga can help reduce the severity and frequency of headaches as well as relieve the pain of headaches. Some of the ways yoga can aid in the reducing the frequency and severity of headaches include:
Contributes to balancing the endocrine and nervous systems—two interrelated systems that play a role in producing headache pain
Stabilizes the sympathetic and parasympathetic tones that control the flow of blood to the head and restore the balance of contraction and dilation in the blood vessels
Creates a deep state of rest and relaxation to calm the mind so the body can regain equilibrium and effectively release pain
Minimizes the body’s reactivity to stress
Recognizes and releases muscle tension in the head, neck and back
Improves postural alignment
Increases awareness of personal headache triggers
Promotes healthy patterns of sleeping and eating
Relieves sensory overload
Reduces pain-amplifying anxiety and depression
Reduces pain-amplifying anxiety and depression
A one-on-one yoga session will guide you through the yoga postures, breathing practices and meditations specifically designed to address your individual needs. Yoga will provide you with personalized tools to restore and maximize your health potential.
While yoga is not a substitute for medical care, it can be an effective adjunct. Yoga may be particularly helpful for those patients attempting to reduce their intake of pain medication. Yoga can help to alleviate the rebound and withdrawal effects that often occur as well. Practiced in conjunction with your current medical regimen and physician’s approval, yoga may be an essential tool reducing the frequency and severity of headaches.
Karen Sothers, MEd, E-RYT
Karen Sothers earned a Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences from Kansas State University and a Masters of Education in Health and Exercise Science from Vanderbilt University. Karen is an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT) with an extensive background in yoga postures, mindfulness meditation, guided imagery and deep relaxation. With more than 20 years of teaching experience, and as the Stress Mastery Specialist for the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine, Karen brings the ancient wisdom of yoga and meditation into contemporary life.
For more information or to make an appointment, please call (858) 481-2251.