I typically practice before work when I first get up in the morning at 4:30 a.m. Because of the early hour and the adjustment time for my body from lying down to movement, I am extremely gentle in my practice at that hour. However, it seems that something I am doing triggers a migraine headache so that by 11:30 a.m. or so, I am suffering from a migraine. Any thoughts or suggestions on what it might be so that I could avoid that movement/stretch? (Doing my practice at another time would be a challenge.)
thanks!
Hello my friend.
I find it odd that you ask about a movement to avoid but you don’t disclose the ones you’re doing. A reference to “my practice” is so incredibly vague I cannot imagine a response enjoining depth and accuracy.
If you would kindly put more into this relationship, so would I.
js2health – So, it sounds like (and I might be wrong here) that you don’t get this migraine on days when you sleep in and don’t take asanas?
Just curious. I would have blamed a daily migraine on my diet.
hi js2,
Isolating the trigger (e.g. waking up early, diet, inappropriate Asanas, not cooling down after a practice etc) is first important step. Trial & error may help you with this. If you then report back … 
(Initial thoughts – 4.30am rise is too demanding for your body so by 11.30am the body protests, especially if the demands on the mind/body are strong during the intervening time.)
Namaste,
Fin
Migraine is caused by cramped blood vessels in the brain.
It might have many causes, one of them being focused to achieve perfection. Cramps are result of the affected part being overused.
Many people use asanas for their toning effects, but forget to really relax after the practice. As InnerAthlete said once: savasana after practice is crucial, crucial, crucial.
I just recently learnt how important is in any regular practice a detached mind. Yes, I acknowledged the need for this, but we often acknowledge things what seem to make sense, without really knowing anything about it. My understanding now is that in every moment of practicing, there must be total acception of the fact that we might not succeed. For example, when focusing on a mantra, and your mind slips, it is natural to feel disappointed. Don’t be. Just gently accept that something in you, in your mind was more powerful, more important than that mantra. See, what it is. Analyse, why did it pop in. Can it wait ? Does it bear an emotional charge what might ruin your further concentration ? If yes, than it means that it’s more important than the mantra and the reason you are chanting it. So deal with that, first, than you can do the mantra chanting better.
Remember, mind and prana, are not separate things. Usually people do not realize this as their thinking is so disperesed, that the subtle power of their thoughts is not apparent. But in meditation, we sort out our thoughts, we weed them form the wrong ones, concentrate on the good ones, until a new order is born in our thinking. In that case, these thoughts will bear much greater vitality (prana) in them, as they are expressing, bearing, chanelling, the truth, the light, the life. Because of this, the method of supressing thoughts, trying to force them out from our minds, is a mistake. I was kindly remembered this by many members of this forum. (Nichole, Mirjana, thank you)
One free from the mind, is out of this world. Light, truth, life, is out of this world. What we are, and see here is it’s expression. We need not throw our lives away, our minds away, we need to make them lit up by this otherworldly light. We need to become able to comprehend, understand everything in our lives, how it comes to life, and why. Aim for perfection, realize the present imperfection, and lovingly forgive it.
[quote=Fin;16176]
(Initial thoughts ? 4.30am rise is too demanding for your body so by 11.30am the body protests, especially if the demands on the mind/body are strong during the intervening time.)
Fin[/quote]
I would say that depends on individual. I’m also waking up most late at 5.00am already for years. I find those early morning hours most rewarding for myself. I’ve always been a morning person. When I was in school I studied for exams early in the morning, later I was jogging, and last years I do my yoga practice. It doesn’t feel demanding at all. Mostly I wake up before alarm clock goes on. But I know many people who are much more active in the evenings and would be a real effort for them to wake up early in the morning…
Hi Mirjana,
You are absolutely right, each individual is different, my comment was directed at js2 (to provoke thought) & not a general comment. 
A person with a Pitta constitution (Prakriti) can manage change & is better at managing all sorts of energy. However Vata type (like I am) are easily disturbed by change in routine, they use up energy very quickly and are also very prone to ailments such as Migraines (which I used to suffer for many years, till I found Yoga).
However I agree with you waking up early (like I do at 4.30am) and forming a routine of it has also been very beneficial for me. Yes, its wonderful to have that time for yourself in the mornings when no one is making demands on you and you can hear the birds twittering (we can now in the UK), I don’t know if you can in Holland by now (i.e. Feb). I don’t hear the birds in Nov & Dec but come Feb I can hear them. I wish spring was here … Has spring arrived in Holland or is it still cold?
Namaste,
Fin
Hi Fin,
thank you for more explanation. I love bird’s singing! Holland is a paradise for birds. Probably because of so many canals you can see in Amsterdam most unusual birds for the cities. Like herons, storks, even parrots and many, many others.
It is again colder in Holland, and today a very strong and cold wind came from East. I think winter didn’t say the last word for this year yet
Hearty greetings,
Mirjana