The tension headache, also called a muscle-contraction headache, is by far the most common form of headache. Unlike the migraine, the tension headache is described as a dull ache that encircles the head.

Although they’re not completely understood, tension headaches are linked to muscle tension in the head, neck, scalp, and face. They can be triggered by stress-related habits, such as teeth grinding, or by poor posture and fatigue. Sitting hunched over a desk with the head hanging forward of the shoulders can create a constant contraction of the muscles of the neck , upper back, and shoulders. Repetitive motion—like typing or using a computer mouse—can also result in chronic shoulder and neck tension that can lead to headache pain.

Not surprisingly, yoga can help to release tension and ease the symptoms of a headache. If you have a headache, or feel one coming on, skip the challenging asana practice and try out the postures below.

Yoga can help relieve headaches

PALMING: To relieve an aching head, rub your hands together until warm and then place them over the eyes. Breathe deeply and invite the eyes to soften and relax.

Sukhasana (Easy Pose)

Gentle poses soothe headache pain.

Neck rolls: Sit tall in Sukhasana. Moving with the breath, drop your right ear toward the right shoulder and roll your chin to your chest. From center, drop your left ear to your left shoulder, bring your head back up to center. Reverse, starting on the left side. Shoulder rolls: Lift the shoulders up and back on an inhalation; then, on the exhalation, move them down and forward. Then reverse the motion.

Garudasana (Eagle Pose)

In Savasana, count the breath or mentally recite a mantra, making your exhalation last twice as long as your inhalation.

Sitting tall in a chair or on your mat, inhale as you extend your arms out to the sides. Exhale into Eagle Pose, with the right arm on top. Inhale again as you extend your arms out to the sides. Exhale into Eagle Pose with the left arm on top. Repeat several times, moving with the breath.

Many types of headache exist: tension headaches, migraines headaches with and without aura, cluster headaches, temporal arteritis and cervicogenic headaches, just to name a few. Each of these headaches develop for a different reason. Once the cause of a headache has been determined, it can often be successfully treated. This is especially true for cervicogenic headaches. Manual medical practitioners frequently are able to diagnosis cervicogenic headaches and, fortunately so, since there is much that can be done to manage them.

Have you ever had a headache that starts in your neck, wraps up the back of your head and somehow makes in into the back of your eye or temples? These are some of the symptoms people may experience with a cervicogenic headache. They may also notice neck pain, nausea and vomiting, when severe.

Cervicogenic broken down:
‘Cervico’ meaning cervical spine or neck
‘Genic’ meaning produced by or origin of

How does neck pain or tightness turn into a headache? Hopefully the only time you have ever seen someone suffer from a heart attack has been in the movies. If you can picture the actor suffering, they often clench their left arm or complain of left arm pain. Why is this? Our heart and our left arm share a similar neurological supply which can confuse our brain when significant pain is noted in one of the two locations. In the case of a heart attack, our heart is the source of the pain, but our left arm is where the pain is often experienced. Our poor brain has a lot to manage and sometimes gets confused. This principle is the same for cervicogenic headaches. It is the muscles and joints in the neck that refer pain into our heads.

This is actually great news! This means that if we treat the neck musculature and joints which are the headache culprits, our head pain can often resolve. Medical research has proven the effectiveness of chiropractic manipulations in the management of cervicogenic and migraine headaches. Soft tissue work such as Active Release Technique® (A.R.T.®) and Graston Technique® are also effective in treating this type of headache.

Now, we need to get to the root of the root. The most common cause of neck complaints is upper cross syndrome: weak deep neck flexors, middle and lower trapezius muscles in combination with tight suboccipital (neck) and pectoralis muscles. By strengthening these weak links and getting the tight muscles treated, neck pain is likely to improve and subsequently the headaches as well.

If you suffer from another type of headache, you may recognize some of the symptoms mentioned above as there can frequently be overlap in headache complaints and diagnoses. For this reason, it is important to ensure that all aspects of your headache are being both diagnosed and managed appropriately.

Article by Dr. Carla Cupido
Learn more about Dr. Carla Cupido.