One of my specialties is working with people living with Migraine, a neurological condition that can be debilitating for many and take a toll on the mind, body and spirit. Having lived with migraines for as long as I can remember, its a passion to share the yoga techniques that helped me manage my own attacks with others. This includes a combination of working out with power yoga sequences, stretching, meditation and breathing techniques. Its the same yoga that you've heard of, so how is yoga for migraines different than all other yoga?
Purely on application. By application I mean that my classes for migraineurs are designed based on my “quadrant of triggers” or the top 4 triggers that I see most often – stress, sleep, movement and posture.
From there, I utilize poses, breathing techniques and meditation styles that are most accessible for people living with persistent and/or chronic pain. Basically, the techniques are easy to learn, simple to implement and can be done during daily life. Yogic techniques assist with calming the nervous system (stress, rest), releasing muscle tension (stress, posture) and building stability and mobility in the body (movement, posture)…among many other benefits. You may only need to address one main trigger or maybe its a combination of all. Either way, there are techniques that you can start using right away to manage your migraines.
Once you’ve learned the tool, integration and consistency are the keys to feeling those lasting effects. Learned a new breath work practice? Great, let’s use it when you’re laying in bed or while making your smoothie. Working with private clients over the years, I've noticed an exponential jump in benefits of a yoga practice with those who start using techniques "off the mat". It becomes a way of life and can carry positive effects into other aspects such as relationships and work. With regards to consistency, you can start feeling benefits of yoga after the first session but for a true assessment its best to practice for at least 3 months before deciding whether or not its helping you meet your wellness goals.
Interested in learning yoga techniques to manage your migraine attacks? Check out my On-Demand Classes!
Design your own at-home yoga plan using my migraine-friendly video classes based on four top migraine triggers. Click here to learn more
About the Author:
Tiffany Lord is a private yoga coach, founder of Love + Asana and resident instructor for the International Headache Center. Her passion is helping people reconnect to their bodies for more strength, flexibility and confidence with a personalized approach to movement & mindfulness. She truly believes whether you feel "out of shape" from persistent pain, past injuries or a stressful life change, you can feel better and live the life you want with yoga.