Yoga for headache relief, finding silence within

If you feel a headache coming on or are in the throes of one, find a quiet, comfortable place where you can take 10 to 15 minutes for yourself. Try these three yogic remedies for relief:

PALMING
- Rub your palms together vigorously to create heat in the hands, after they are hot, gently cup both eyes in your palms. You are not pressing into the eyes at all, you are transferring the heat from the hands to the eyes, encouraging relaxation of the face.

- Stay here two or more minutes, then release your hands to your sides and take savasana.

SAVASANA
Also known as deep relaxation, savasana is a Sanskrit word, meaning corpse pose. We take savasana at the end of every yoga practice to allow the body to completely and totally relax. Savasana is not sleep or meditation, it is relaxation with awareness.

- Make sure you are warm.

- Lie down on your back with your eyes gently closed.

- Arms out away from you, not touching you, palms face up towards the sky.

- Legs open hip distance apart or wider, feet flopped open to the sides. (If you are experiencing discomfort in the lower back, you can rest with your knees up).

- Allow your body to feel warm and heavy, sinking into the floor, let every muscle, tissue and cell in the body completely and totally relax.

- Let any tension, tightness or discomfort dissolve.

- Stay here five or more minutes.

- Gently wiggle your fingers and toes to bring your awareness back into your body.

- Bend both knees, roll onto your right side.

- Come up to a seated position when you're ready.