prescribe yoga for migraines

when a migraine attacks (like the one that hit me yesterday, hence no post), the last thing you want to do is move, but trust me a little yoga will do you good!

here's my yogic remedy for alleviating migraine madness:

1. sit in easy seat (sukasana) and just breathe for a few minutes, really focusing your thoughts on your inhales and exhales, not the throbbing in your head that seems to be consuming your world.  if that seems too intense, try counting your breaths to keep yourself focused.  count 50 full breaths - inhaling and exhaling.
2. create half-circle head rolls (still sitting in easy seat) - to relieve tension that has built up in your neck, gently circle your head in a forward half circle, slowly moving left to right. (don't circle backwards)
3. strech your shoulders (still sitting in easy seat) - interlace your fingers behind your back, then draw your palms together and pull your shoulders down and back behind you.
4. warm up your spine with a cat/cow curls (still in easy seat) - place your hands on your knees and arch your spine forward for a seated cow and then curl your spine back for a seated cat.  do this cycle about 10 times, then bring your spine back to neutral.
5. child's pose - rest in child's pose with your forehead touching the floor, your knees out wide so your belly can rest between your thighs and your arms out in front of you.  breathe into your belly so that your belly touches your thighs on each inhale, and then exhale releasing down into the floor.  take 20 deep breath cycles here.
6. legs up the wall - take your final relaxation pose with your legs up a wall, helping to reverse the flow of blood so that your body doesn't have to work against gravity to get the blood to your heart and head.

and last, but certainly not least, drink lots of water!!!!  your little noggin could be dehydrated.