Comments on: Link Between Power Yoga and Migraines?

By: Julie

Julie — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:01:58 +0000

I recently tried Jillian Michaels Yoga Meltdown and both times I got a horrible migraine the next morning. I have been suffering from migraines for about 15 years and they are very inconsistent. Before doing this yoga it had been 6 months since the last one. I was interested to see that others have run into similar experiences. This dvd is a more cardio based yoga with very quick transitions. I have done previous types of yoga before and had never run into this issue….

By: rochelle

rochelle — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:21:30 +0000

i’ve done hot yoga 2 times. i got a migraine after each time. i won’t do hot yoga anymore. it ruins my whole day.

By: Kristen

Kristen — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 03:55:52 +0000

After practicing yoga (and suffering from migraines) for years, I finally gave up yoga to test my theory that it was one of my headache triggers. Turns out I was right: giving up yoga (which was so hard to do) has resulted in a drastic improvement in my headaches, although I have lost a good deal of flexibility and that zen, calm feeling yoga used to bring to me. Every once in a while I sneak back into a yoga class, and within an hour or so afterward I feel a migraine coming on. I wonder why this is? It’s so frustrating. BTW this is just ashtanga and power yoga, not hot yoga.

By: Al Winslow

Al Winslow — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 16:30:43 +0000

We have a theory that posits that, subject to genetic influence, migraine starts with the hepatic enzyme, tryptophan oxygenase (EC 1.13.1.12., L-tryptophan: oxygen oxydoreductase) We are giving serious attention to the circumstances under which you say, incurred your migraine, and its place within the context of our theory. If interested in an overview of our theory, you may contact
chivehill (at) aol.com

By: Helen

Helen — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 17:36:20 +0000

I’ve found that improper hydration when exercising is my biggest migraine trigger. So hot yoga or power yoga without enough to drink (but especially hot yoga, since you’re sweating so much) would be a problem. I always have a water bottle to hand when doing yoga. I also enjoy road biking, but it would often trigger migraines until I started using a Camelback filled with an exercise drink (Gatorade or Powerade or whatever… plain water didn’t cut it) and hydrated consistently throughout the ride. Now my legs give out before my head does. If you’re feeling good and want a hot or power yoga workout, it might be worth trying water and/or Gatorade before during and after your practice.

I’ve had migraines all my life, but a few years ago they became much more frequent (and some lasted as long as a month, though fortunately not at full strength for that whole time). I’m now on verapamil daily, and I do an almost-daily yoga practice. My migraine frequency is now down to once every month or two, and a Maxalt generally takes care of it.

By: Mary

Mary — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 17:30:09 +0000

Same experience, with hot yoga on occas, and sometimes with other forms of yoga. I am not sure if it is related to muscle tension or over exertion. I am generally in good shape but wonder about exercise induced migraines which seem to happen post a particulay enjoyable, but strenous workout.

By: Tracy

Tracy — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 18:30:43 +0000

I did Yoga for a couple of years and never had a problem. However, I just tried hot yoga and got a terrible Migraine. I am concerned that I can not participate in this form of yoga. Thanks for all the info.

By: William

William — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 04:41:10 +0000

Thanks for blogging on this topic. I suffered from infrequent but intense migraines since childhood, and found that they went away about a year after I started a regular yoga practice. However, I have had migraines almost every time that I have tried “hot” yoga. I was well hydrated and did not push myself, but still felt awful after each class.

For me, doing yoga in room that is above 85 degrees is not beneficial. I recognize that other people have different experiences. By the way, I have also tried Haute Yoga–no migraine but I did not really enjoy the class because of the heat–the floors were actually hot to the touch!

By: migraineur

migraineur — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 04:37:00 +0000

First, let’s not confuse power yoga and hot yoga, they are not the same thing, and the latter is far more likely to cause migraines in certain individuals because the room is typically more heated (100+) than power or vinyasa styles (85-95). From an Ayurvedic standpoint, most people prone to headaches have high Vata or high Pitta constitutions, and Hot Yoga drastically aggravates both of those elements. Power yoga and vinyasa, if done with too fast of transitions, while in a a heated room, also aggravate those elements in these kinds of constitutions, but to a lesser extent. Summer and early fall also make one more prone to the aggravation of those styles, as the seasons challenge these constitutional types more. Slowing one’s transitions between poses in these latter kinds of classes will help to mitigate these effects and give you some control. These latter 2 kinds of classes, because of their emphasis on postures with the head lower than the heart much of the class, also helps to mitigate the headache triggering potential. Studios teaching hot yoga are supposed to inform you to hydrate intensely for at least 2 hours prior to class (not flooding your stomach though!), but most don’t. And to avoid eating for at least 2 hours prior to class. Even with those precautions, the Hot Yoga may still be too much for people with those constitutional types, particularly during those seasons. All the other symptoms noted, including the irritability, etc. are from the same roots.

By: Pragya Gupta

Pragya Gupta — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 12:51:25 +0000

Power Yoga is an answer to a majority of health problems in the modern world………….