ASANAS TO RELIEVE HEADACHES

Headaches can be caused by eyestrain, indigestion, allergies, sinusitis, exhaustion or poor posture. Types of headaches vary according to the cause and so do the remedies. Indigestion headaches come from stuck bile or liver chi. Regular use of evening primrose oil which reduces fatty deposits in the liver is a remedy. Headaches caused by toxins or food allergies require aloe vera, a cleansing agent. Sinus headaches are alleviated by sniffing gota kola to cool and calm the mind. Chili peppers and watercress help prevent sinus congestion. Alternate nostril breathing and shitali also help to cool the head. To practice Shitali curl the tongue and inhale slowly thru the mouth and hold the breath. Then exhale slowly thru the nose. For alternate nostril breathing check out whether your left or right nostril exhales more forcibly. Close the stronger nostril and breathe thru the opposite nostril until the headache subsides. Salute the sun every morning to prevent headaches. Practice the following postures:

DOWNWARD FACING DOG Push butt up toward ceiling...fiercely. Push hands and heels of feet into floor and let head hang downward. Pull belly button up into spine. And breathe deeply. Avoid pinching shoulders. Push shoulders away from ears.
COBRA Start in a crawl position kneeling on the floor . Rest hands on floor in vertical alignment with shoulders. Sit butt back into heels of feet... inhale deeply. Now exhale and push head and torso forward into cobra. Do not push up with arms. Use chest and middle back muscles. The cobra is a backbend ... careful not to push in on lower back.
FORWARD BEND Sit on floor and extend legs forward. Lift arms up overhead, bringing hands into direct vertical alignment with ears, shoulders and hips. Spine is now erect. Exhale and reach torso forward ... without hunching or rounding middle spine. Push chest forward toward thighs. Attach hands to calves, ankles or feet. Put a pillow over legs and rest forehead on pillow to relax mind. Breathe deeply. Keep neck long ... shoulders pressing away from ears.
KNEE PRESS Bend knees. Pull feet into groin. Inhale chest and rib cage upward. Exhale and press down through inner thighs until knees touch floor. Continue to pull feet in towards groin. directing the chi down into your lower body. Stretch head upward to lengthen neck and back muscles. Lower chin down into chest and stretch open the back of neck. Breath deeply.
RECLINING POSE Gently roll torso back to floor... close eyes and breathe deeply. Avoid exercise if headache is acute or severe. Practice eye movements. Close eyes tightly...open widely. Roll eyes up and down and to the right and left. Circle eyes clock-wise and counter clock-wise. Palm eyes and forehead. Rub heels of palms together until warm, then place gently over eyes and feel the tension melt away as you visualize your happiest moments.

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