Sheppard Method Pilates explains how pilates can help you fight headaches and migraines.
Many people worldwide are affected by migraines in some way, shape, or form. And while exercise is commonly thought of as a way to help migraines, it’s not universally recognized as fact. But what most can agree on is that targeting and addressing specific issues – issues that pilates has the ability to directly affect – can, and does, help limit the frequency or intensity of migraines. Below, we at Sheppard Method Pilates will identify these issues, and discuss how pilates has the ability to help.
Misalignments
Throughout the day our bodies twist and turn in all different directions. It’s the twisting and turning over the course of a day, many days or even weeks, that causes the body to misalign. When the body does this, it can lead to improper spinal alignment – which in turn can lead to headaches, as well as migraines. In order to help counteract this from happening, Sheppard Method Pilates recommends you incorporate pilates movements/stretches throughout your everyday routine, and even at work.
Impaired Breathing
Improper breathing can lead to low oxygen levels, which is a common cause of headaches and migraines. However, pilates is able to help counteract this with its focus on proper and precise breathing. Doing so will allow you to increase your breath cycles, ultimately increasing the amount of oxygen your body is receiving and decreasing the amount of headaches and migraines you are experiencing.
Reduced Posture and Strength
Poor posture is a leading cause of headaches and migraines. Specifically, poor posture that leads to the weakening of your neck muscles. Poor neck muscles cause imbalances in your alignment, putting extra stress on your vertebrae – which can lead to headaches and migraines. If you have poor posture, a way to help strengthen your neck muscles is by performing a neck roll. Do so by laying on your stomach, and moving your head in a circular position. The stretching motion, paired with the fight against gravity make this a great exercise to help poor posture and weak neck muscles.
Poor Sleep
This may be fairly obvious, but poor sleep can directly lead to headaches and migraines. However, if you’ve ever struggled with quality sleep, you know getting better sleep is not as easy as turning off the lights and closing your eyes. That’s why here at Sheppard Method Pilates, we suggest that you implement regular pilates into your routine. Exercising in general is recognized as a way to better your sleep, and exercising with pilates can only further enhance this. Sign up for one of our private pilates classes, of discuss our many alternatives with one of our pilates instructors.
Sheppard Method Pilates Overview
A migraine can be debilitating to not only your productivity, but your everyday life. However, by paying attention to the problem areas above, and through the incorporation of pilates into your regular routine, you’ll better be able to fight this problem.
Contact Sheppard Method Pilates today to see what pilates and a balanced body can do for you!
(All information received from pilates.about.com)
