Yoga & headaches?

HI Mandie

If you've not had your blood pressure checked recently, it's probably worth a visit to the GP just to be safe. The pressure inside the head can increase as we bend over as the blood gets a free ride. Other than that, it could be you have some postural alignments that need looking at by an experienced teacher. When I taught tai chi I learned that people wearing glasses often used to break the spinal alignments, as the frames would get in to the visual field, and people would then lift their chins creating a bend at the neck.

It's possible that something else might be going on, but rule out the simple stuff first.

Best wishes
David

Hi Mandie,

Blocked sinuses also comes to mind? Especially as it is the forward bends which are painful.
Try using some pine or eucalyptus essential oil in a room burner whilst you practise to ease the passages.

Hi David,
Thanks for your response, I hadn't thought about blood pressure! Would it only affect me in the evening though as I don't have the problem when practising yoga during the day?

Gaia,
Thanks! Sinuses are fine as far as I am aware but will try burning something to see if it helps.
Mandie

HI Mandie

Blood pressure varies throughout the day-it's not fixed at one rate, nor is everyone affected in the same way. Your blood pressure could easily be lower in the morning. From a TCM perspective movement and exercise is Yang, whereas stillness and meditation is Yin in comparison. The early part of the day is when the Chinese would traditionally exercise, partly to assist the natural rythyms of the body as the Yin of night evolves into the Yang of daytime, making it a useful time to speed up the circulation an shake off the sluggishness of the night. The evening, however, is when Yang is turning to Yin, as day turns to night. To exercise at this time goes against the natural flow, as you would increase the circulation at a time when the body should be slowing down for the Yin part of the day/night cycle. In the same way, coffee, which is very Yang would keep you awake if drank in the evening!

I find that if I go through my tai chi programme in the evening, I get loads of trouble getting to sleep, as everything is all stirred up.

Hi Mandie,

It's the timing that's the biggest clue...... What you are experiencing is consistant with low hydration which increases during the day. So it's not just a simple case of how much water you're drinking, but I think it's a combination of what you drink during the day.

So if you're drinking more stimulent drinks, i.e. tea, coffee or sodas, you to reduce and replace with water. Certainly drinking more water in the afternoon will make a big difference.

HTH,
Myarka

Hi David,
That does make sense! Unfortunately being a single working mum doesn't give me much opportunity to exercise during the day (although I am very active and walk everywhere!). so evenings when little one is in bed is the perfect time. That's why i don't do it regularly - because I am too tired or just want to flop for some quiet time!!

Hi Myarka,
Thanks for your reply. I drink mainly water and herbal teas throughout the day, and allow myself a decaff coffee mid morning at work and a cup of tea when I get home from work. But I guess I do sometimes drink most of my water be the time I pick my son up from school. I make sure I have a full 75cl water bottle around the house that I can sip from when I get home from school & work though, and will quite often drink a whole one during the afternoon/evening...