Banish Stress Headaches

Banish Stress Headaches

Adapted from The Yoga Facelift by Marie-Veronique Nadeau (Conari Press, 2007).

Ahhh, the tension headache. We instinctively bring our fingertips to our temples in an effort to ease away the pain. And it works, if only for a minute. For longer-lasting relief we found this simple and effective massage that goes beyond the temples.

SIMPLE SOLUTION: Place the index and middle fingers of both hands in the middle of your forehead. Rub your forehead by making v-shapes out from the center.
Now raise your scalp and forehead by lifting your brows slightly with your fingertips. Hold that position while you massage your forehead in short, upward strokes towards your hairline. Release. Alternate v-shapes and stroking six times.

Move your fingers across your brow to your temples, pausing there to give your temples a gentle massage. This is an area where we hold stress and tension that can often lead to headaches.

Then move your fingers to the corners of your eyes and massage gently.

Move your fingers down to the hinge of your jaw muscles. Then move your fingers along your jawline, massaging firmly.

Move your fingers down to your collarbone. Then, turning your head to the right, massage both side of your neck with firm upward strokes. Turn your head to the left and repeat the massage on the left side of your neck.