Link Between Power Yoga and Migraines?
Last week I decided to check out a new (well, newish) yoga studio in Seattle, Haute Yoga on Queen Anne. They offer hot yoga and power yoga classes, and despite the groan-inducing name and Lululemon profile they have a good list of teachers.
When I got there the staff at the front desk were friendly, and as expected I had to sign a waiver that it wouldn’t be their fault if I injured myself on the premises. What surprised me was that no one asked if I had ever done yoga before. Is that not important in these more exercise-focused studios?
The studio is nice and clean with a view of a small back garden, and even if I went for a class listed as power yoga the room was really hot. I know lots of people like to sweat and feel that they are getting a good workout, but I just don’t get it. I much prefer to generate heat through the practice. The class was as expected more workout than yoga, including rap music and instructions to “pick up the pace, people!” I left feeling more worn out than calmed down, and the next day I got a head-splitting migraine. Coincidence?
I have a theory that power yoga/hot yoga aggravate the nervous system, while a more breath-focused practice triggers the relaxation response. For migraine sufferers the hot room might also lead to blood vessels in the head and neck expanding, another link to migraines. A regular yoga practice has helped eliminate most migraines for me, so I find it surprising that a yoga class can actually trigger an attack. Has anyone else had this experience? I’m planning on going back to Haute Yoga to test my theory. Not that I want a migraine, but I’m really curious if there is a connection.
To cheer me up after the migraine: I just found out that I’ve been included in the list Top Health and Wellness Blogs to Watch in 2010 by the Medical Assistants site! Thanks for adding me to this great list of health blogs 
Hi C&Y: Just Tweeted my crew your post to see if they had any input on this subject…I suspect you’re right in the way that I CANNOT do any inversions if I have a headache (or errrr…had a couple extra glasses of wine). I feel awful.
If you want to try Power Yoga in a hot room, I recommend Be Luminous Yoga. Great teachers, new studio, complimentary tea.
I had a 5-class pass for Haute yoga. Their room is insanely hot. The teacher played Black Eyed Peas music for the entire hour. I wanted to run out of the room, but the yogini in me decided I had to let go and have no judgment, so I stayed. But I never went back.
Enjoy,
~ Ana
Hi Heidi,
I have been wondering the exact same thing. I am a very moderate migraine sufferer and usually find the optical illusions worse than the nausea and minor but persistent headache I get afterwards.
However I’ve just taken up yoga in a heated room and have had 4 migraines in 2 weeks when sometimes I go 6-12 months without one. I wasn’t sure if it was the yoga or the heat in the room specifically that might have some connection but you may have answered that for me! I think I’ll have to try it at another yoga school without the extra heat and see if that has the same effect.
Glad to hear I’m not alone!
Wendy
I’ve been practicing hot yoga at Urban Yoga Spa for two months now, and I can honestly say I’ve never been so relaxed. I agree that certain styles probably work better for different people, though.
Hot yoga tends to make me slightly woozy and end up injuring myself because I lose connection to my sense of where my “edges” are, so I’m not surprised you wound up with a migraine. (I get them too, and very often a vinyasa practice will help calm my system back down.)
It may just be the studio (and/or teacher/style of yoga), also. The environment in which I practice plays a huge part in how I feel afterward. For instance, if a class has a lot of chatter going on (something that’s happened when I’ve gone to some Anusara classes in my area), I can’t settle in and focus and I end up feeling irritable and stressed by the end of the class.
It will be interesting to see if it’s the heat or the feel of the place for you.
I had a similar experience, I am new to hot yoga, I really want to continue the practice, but have had a migraine every time (3) I went to class and the last one was excruciating! I spoke to the teacher and she suggested I should try to be next to the window the next time. I hope it gets better because otherwise, my yoga practice is turning out to be counter productive.
If anyone has overcome this, please share your experience.
Thanks,
Yogini
Hello,
me again with an update, I started going to a different yoga school that overlooks the beach and has lovely open windows with flowing air (and a beautiful view) and no extra heat and it’s been amazing - no migraines at all and I’ve been feeling very relaxed - I guess everyone has to find the right yoga for themselves!
Cheers
Wendy
It is true that there are activities that can actually trigger migraines. I speak based onmy own experiences. But I never thought it is possible with yoga. I might even consider using yoga to lessen migraine pains as it relaxes the body and the mind. I guess I’d have to wait on the result of your observations to see if yoga can actually trigger migraines. Thanks!
I do experience migraines and I love yoga. I had the exact same experience that you had. I thought to myself I love yoga, so why not try hot yoga. Big mistake. I took three classes, and in each class I felt dizzy with a rapid heart rate, and each time, once I got home, I started to get a truly horrible migraine. Each time. So, after three attempts, I gave up on hot yoga. But other forms of yoga, I absolutely love!
I’ve had migraines since i was a kid. I got this from my mother. They are usually if not 100% heat induced. Other things that also trigger migraine headaches aside from heat include stress, and lack of sleep or food. I am actually about to try hot yoga for the first time tomorrow. I know there’s a really high chance that I will get terrible migraine from it so as precaution (because I really want to try hot yoga) I will take acetaminophene already before i even start. I should probably make a beeline for the spot next to the window too. Thanks for that advice : )