Tension headaches, aren't they the worst? You can take pain relief medications, but more often than not, the medications don't do the job of taking the pain away. As Pilates instructors, we will come across clients that come in to their sessions with a nagging headache, only to leave the session feeling relief. How does that happen? There are several reasons why the Pilates exercises and breath work help to relieve headache pain. The first reason is...

breathing! So often in our very busy days, most people aren't getting enough oxygen to their brain. The Pilates session is a full 55 minutes of concentrated breath, that is deep and rids the body of toxins, lactic acid, stress. The muscles can begin to relax once the breathing begins. Next, we do exercises that help to stretch the Trapezius, or neck muscles that feel very tight when one has a tension headache. Many of the clients come in saying, maybe I should get a message on my neck and shoulders, but end the session feeling great. We emphasize doing their exercises with the shoulders down and away from the ears, we stretch the neck muscles as well as strength those muscles, get circulation into that part of the body (exercises like Chest Expansion, the Ped-o-pul, Wunda Chair). We also do exercises where the legs come over the head, stretching the Occipital nerve and muscles on the top of the head and even into the forehead, down the  back of the neck (exercises like Shortspine, Roll-over, Overhead, Jacknife). Clients are so amazed that they take less pain medication, and are now self-reliant in being able to heal there own self. There is a lot of power in that feeling. So next time you feel a tension headache coming on, don't reach for pain medication, take a Pilates session instead, you will be amazed at the results.