Do you get Migraine attacks? I do and it sucks! My earliest memory of what I now know was migraine was when I was about 7 years old. I remember telling my parents that my head hurt really bad and I cried big alligator tears while crawling into bed. My mom had Migraine, so she understood, and my dad just rubbed my head and told me stories until I passed out. It was the first in a LONG line of many days ruined by migraine – which is more than a headache, it’s a neurological condition without a cure (at least not yet). But this isn’t a sob story about migraine, friends. We all have our s*** to deal with. This is about how having the right set of tools can change not only your experience with pain but also your experience living with pain.
"Migraine is an episodic primary headache disorder. Symptoms typically last 4 to 72 hours and may be severe. Pain is often unilateral, throbbing, worse with exertion, and accompanied by symptoms such as nausea and sensitivity to light, sound, or odors."
- Merck Manual
Thankfully it seems like every day I find new research supporting the use of meditation, breathing (pranayama) and yoga postures for migraine management. Although I truly believe the proof is in the pudding (you'll feel the benefits after consistently doing yoga), having this research is beneficial if for no other reason than allowing medical professionals to feel legit in recommending yoga as part of a patient's wellness plan. In fact, this article from Migraine Again highlighted research on patients who added yoga to their treatment plan and noted that "The group who practiced yoga experienced a significant decrease in the frequency and intensity of their Migraine attacks and had fewer headache days." This study provided support for combining migraine medication with yoga to improve the effectiveness of the treatment plan. Basically, you can apply yoga techniques to your lifestyle for less frequent and/or intense migraine attacks whether or not you use medication.
After 20 years of living with migraine, I finally found the tools that helped me manage them. I went from almost daily migraines to migraines 1-2 times a quarter with help from my BFF – yoga. A couple months of consistent vinyasa classes with breath work and meditation not only got me back in shape, but helped relieve my stress and change my migraine experience. Now, I share yoga techniques with others living with Migraine to hopefully change their lives too. Can I guarantee it will work? No. But, imagine if you had even one less migraine or your migraines were even 1% less intense. I think that’s worth giving it a try. If you do too, check out my self-paced, on-demand program Resilient with Migraine!
About Your Instructor:
Tiffany Lord, E-RYT & Yoga Therapeutic Specialist
Corporate Yoga Coach
Resilience + Stress Management Expert
As the founder of Love + Asana, I help busy professionals feel more resilient and empowered in their wellness using simple movement and mindfulness techniques to manage stress. This all-levels, accessible approach to physical and mental health at work allows employees to easily learn and implement healthy habits during their work day…and feel the benefits ripple out into all areas of life.
Since 2016, I’ve had the honor of coaching thousands of employees through virtual sessions and workshops focused on relaxation techniques, mindset, and mobility. My wellness articles have been featured in fyi50+, CO Yoga + Life, and I’m the author of three “Get With Gratitude” journals based on my online workshop series for resiliency through a grateful mindset.
I completed a 200-hour training through CorePower Yoga and received my 500-hour Therapeutic Specialist certificate through Yoga Medicine to complement my background in massage therapy and Bachelor’s Degree in International Business with Cum Laude honors from the University of Colorado at Denver. As a Continuing Education Provider with the Yoga Alliance, I share my knowledge of functional movement and the mind-body connection with yoga instructors wanting to deepen their teaching toolkit. My expertise in relaxation techniques and stress management also supports others living with Migraine through collaborations with Cove, an online migraine treatment company, and the International Headache Center.
When I’m not supporting wellness of others, I’m out improving my own – enjoying time with family & friends, dancing, hiking, bouldering in the gym, reading and drinking too many lattes :)