Let’s discuss 4 great migraine relief hacks today that can help you with migraine prevention.
Probably when you have a migraine, one of the last things you are thinking about is exercise, right? In fact, when you have a migraine, you probably feel like hiding from the world and sleeping the day away. As a migraine sufferer, this is often the “norm” for you, and actually, if you have the time, a good long nap may be one of the best options for you. In my own experience, I have found that sometimes a migraine will go away more quickly with a little extra sleep.
Sometimes though, you may not be in a place where you have time to get some sleep. Maybe you have to suffer through and stay at work—or maybe you are at a social event and leaving isn’t an option.
Let’s talk about another option that may be a good for you when you can’t fit in that nap or you can’t get away from your current situation—try getting some gentle exercise. This can be a great way to speed up your recovery process. Why? As I have mentioned to you before, exercise can eliminate stress and it reduces muscle tension, plus stress is one of the main triggers of migraines.
I know what you’re thinking. “Oh right, I am in the middle of a migraine and she thinks I’m going to exercise!” Sure, there are time when you are in so much pain, you just cannot get out of bed, let alone think about exercising. But there are times when you may not have the luxury of going home from work, or being able to lay down. Physical activity can actually be a huge benefit in lessening or eliminating migraine pain; especially when you are at a scale of 1-6 pain-wise.
Think about this. Did you know that physical activity also promotes the release of endorphins that act as a mild sedative? How cool is that! What’s even better is that even a slow, casual walk can give you these benefits. I’m not suggesting a marathon or some exercise that totally over-exerts you; rather something slow and gentle.
Walking
Walking creates balanced, natural movements in your body and gets your blood flowing. As you exercise, you naturally take deeper breaths and you raise your heart rate—all without putting additional strain on your already aching body.
Yoga
Another option is simple yoga poses. Even research has shown how great this type of exercise can be for helping bring migraine relief. Yoga stretches your muscles, balances your body, and forces you to breathe deeply. Again, you don’t need to engage in long, protracted yoga or poses that put undue stress on your body and make your migraine worse. Instead, focus on easy poses that do not strain the body, such as the Child Pose, Forward Bend, and Cat Stretch. Actually, the Bridge and Plow poses are among some of the most beneficial for migraines, as they gently stretch the area at the base of the skull where the greater occipital nerve is located. Also the twisting poses can be used to release tension in the spine and neck. And don’t forget the Corpse, where you lie still on your back, breathe deeply, and relax. Exactly what you want to do when you have a migraine!
Aerobics
Aerobic exercise can be really beneficial for getting some migraine relief as well. (Just remember that strenuous exercise can make a migraine worse.) Studies have shown that aerobic exercise can be as effective as medications when it comes to preventing migraines—probably because of the increased oxygen intake and improvement of circulation as a result of the aerobic exercise.
Breathing
When you exercise, your breathing becomes much better, much deeper, and you find yourself inhaling more oxygen, opening your body up to migraine relief.
Bonus Tip: Try this breathing technique for more relief.
Place your hand below your nose, and block one nostril with your thumb as you inhale. Release as you exhale through both nostrils. Use your middle finger to block the opposite nostril as you inhale again, and release to exhale through both nostrils. Do this for 5-10 minutes — this focused breathing may be helpful in making the pain melt away.
Conclusion
We’ve talked about some ways of gently exercising—even when you have a migraine—so that you can realize some additional relief from your migraine pain. Any gentle exercise that gets your body moving and helps you breathe more deeply can help relieve that pain. If you haven’t done this before, give it a try, then hit reply and let me know what benefits you have seen.
Happy exercising!