Yoga and addiction

margaux · 12-09-2009, 01:02 PM

I have recently started my yoga practice after many years. I am in a 12 step recovery program for drug and alcohol addiction, 64 days clean. I am using yoga as part of spiritual/meditative practice. I have been getting bad headaches, not like I've bumped it or pulled anything, but rather like a nausiating stress headache starting at the temples and eventually reaching my whole forehead, at it's worst the day after practice. A friend seems to think this is due to the intense detoxification going on, particularly resulting from forward bends, as my liver gets massaged. Does anyone know anything about this? If its a detox issue I guess it's a necessary discomfort on the road to a cleaner body. I am worried though that maybe I'm doing something wrong.

Techne · 12-09-2009, 04:12 PM

margaux-- welcome to the forums, and a hearty congratulations on your success so far! I admire the changes you are making in your life.
While I've not experienced this headache, it reminds me of a thread on migraines --
which I can't find just now. The original poster kept us up on his/her progress, and it turned out (s)he was missing electrolytes. I forget if it was something like Gatorade or just some lemon juice in water after practice (and before the headache started) that gave her relief.

While looking for that thread, though, I notice there are well over a dozen threads here on headaches and migraines. You might find something really useful in one of them. (The search feature is in the narrow blue stripe, above.)

Alix · 12-09-2009, 05:15 PM

I think the detox is definitely your issue. Drink lots of water before and after your practice to help flush. It will take you a while to remove all the stuff thats built up in there.

Congratulations on your sobriety. Thats quite an accomplishment!

mandarinyoga · 12-09-2009, 05:28 PM

Margaux,

64 days is a great achievement! Congrats! I took me few years to get back to normal. I would advise not to do a lot of forward bending, or at least do not stay more than one breath in the forward bend. Try to do emphasis on balancing poses like tree pose, dancer's. pose, crow.

By the way what is your blood pressure? If it is higher than normal you may want to avoid forward bends and inversions.

"Yoga teaches us to cure what need
not be endured and endure what
cannot be cured." B. K. S Iyengar

12-09-2009, 04:12 PM	#2
Techne saptashata Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Salem Oregon Posts: 784	margaux-- welcome to the forums, and a hearty congratulations on your success so far! I admire the changes you are making in your life. While I've not experienced this headache, it reminds me of a thread on migraines -- which I can't find just now. The original poster kept us up on his/her progress, and it turned out (s)he was missing electrolytes. I forget if it was something like Gatorade or just some lemon juice in water after practice (and before the headache started) that gave her relief. While looking for that thread, though, I notice there are well over a dozen threads here on headaches and migraines. You might find something really useful in one of them. (The search feature is in the narrow blue stripe, above.) __________________ Maranatha

12-09-2009, 05:15 PM	#3
Alix Eternal Optimist Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Edmonton Posts: 732	I think the detox is definitely your issue. Drink lots of water before and after your practice to help flush. It will take you a while to remove all the stuff thats built up in there. Congratulations on your sobriety. Thats quite an accomplishment! __________________ You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it. Robin Williams

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12-09-2009, 01:02 PM	#1
margaux éka Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 1	I have recently started my yoga practice after many years. I am in a 12 step recovery program for drug and alcohol addiction, 64 days clean. I am using yoga as part of spiritual/meditative practice. I have been getting bad headaches, not like I've bumped it or pulled anything, but rather like a nausiating stress headache starting at the temples and eventually reaching my whole forehead, at it's worst the day after practice. A friend seems to think this is due to the intense detoxification going on, particularly resulting from forward bends, as my liver gets massaged. Does anyone know anything about this? If its a detox issue I guess it's a necessary discomfort on the road to a cleaner body. I am worried though that maybe I'm doing something wrong.

12-09-2009, 05:28 PM	#4
mandarinyoga MandarinYoga Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: 32246 Florida Posts: 20	Margaux, 64 days is a great achievement! Congrats! I took me few years to get back to normal. I would advise not to do a lot of forward bending, or at least do not stay more than one breath in the forward bend. Try to do emphasis on balancing poses like tree pose, dancer's. pose, crow. By the way what is your blood pressure? If it is higher than normal you may want to avoid forward bends and inversions. "Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured." B. K. S Iyengar