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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Ch and yoga
        
(Message started by: sandie99 on Feb 17^th, 2008, 8:16am)

Title: Ch and yoga
Post by sandie99 on Feb 17^th, 2008, 8:16am

I know that some of us in here do yoga. I found this article about yoga and chronic pain.

Although it's not particularly about ch nor headaches, those who do yoga/consider starting it, check the article out; there are asanas/poses, which can be uselful what comes to dealing with pain.

http://www.beliefnet.com/gallery/yogachronicpain.html

Sanna

Title: Re: Ch and yoga
Post by monty on Feb 17^th, 2008, 8:54am

Do you also do the breathing exercises? I was recently reading that the yoga exercises that involve breathing through one nostril can have a beneficial effect on the nervous system. It tends to increase brain activity in the hemisphere opposite to the nostril that is used. Different varieties of the exercises can increase/decrease sympathetic/parasympathetic nerve activity, to the point of lowering the pressure inside the eye!

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2625214

Title: Re: Ch and yoga
Post by sandie99 on Feb 17^th, 2008, 11:32am

Monty,
I practice yoga again after a break. I did my first yoga asanas sometime in 2001, but I've never been to a proper yoga class, so I'm probably not doing the yoga breathing exercises correctly. But sure will learn, if doing that can help with ch! :)

Sanna

Title: Re: Ch and yoga
Post by monty on Feb 17^th, 2008, 11:42am

I can't say for sure it will help with CH - zero research, and I have only recently become interested in that, so I can't say anything about the effect on me. But anything that improves health and normalizes the nervous system is a good thing - especially when free!

Title: Re: Ch and yoga
Post by sandie99 on Feb 17^th, 2008, 11:52am

I agree; anything which can help with well-being is good. Absolutely! When I begun yoga, it helped me mentally a lot. Although I've been practicing it again just a week, I've noticed already how much good it has done.

Sanna

Title: Re: Ch and yoga
Post by DennisM1045 on Feb 17^th, 2008, 1:10pm

I have been practicing yoga for a little over a year now. It hasn't cured my CH by any stretch but has brought many other benefits including better flexibility, I seem to catch fewer colds, increased lung capacity, improved core strength and I sleep a lot better. No more back and shoulder soreness waking me up 8)

While I have practiced some asana that use breath (pranayama) exclusively, it hasn't been the focus of my practice. However in everything we do breath is linked with movement and you maintain your focus by focusing on the breath. It keeps the mind from drifting off to that grocery list you've been mentally writing ;)

I do find that yoga has inproved my ability to focus during a lower level hit. It does nothing for Kip8 or above. At that point I just get swept along with the pain.

It might be my imagination but during my last cycle I seemed to have less high kip level hits. I have a theory that an increased ability to focus (on O2!) has kept the smaller hits from becoming bigger ones :-/

Then again it could just be the beast f'ing with my head ;)

-Dennis-

Title: Re: Ch and yoga
Post by andrewjb on Feb 17^th, 2008, 4:05pm

i'am sure doing yoga helpes with pain. i practice yoga every day, being that i stretch, with dumbells for increased stamina, breath deep and rest. i'am sure any yogi would laugh at my attempts, but it helps. andrew.

Title: Re: Ch and yoga
Post by DennisM1045 on Feb 20^th, 2008, 12:46pm

on 02/17/08 at 08:54:54, monty wrote:

Here is a short piece on alternate nostril breathing:

http://www.yogajournal.com/health/2108?utm_source=DailyInsight&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_content=b&utm_campaign=DI_022008

-Dennis-

Title: Re: Ch and yoga
Post by sandie99 on Feb 22^nd, 2008, 7:45am

Thank you, Dennis! :)

Sanna

Title: Re: Ch and yoga
Post by seasonalboomer on Feb 22^nd, 2008, 8:22am

When I was doing yoga it did help me focus a little better when I felt something coming on. But when I went to full-on cycle the overheating would trigger me.

Scott