Several yoga poses are recognized for their therapeutic purposes. Vertigo is a common condition characterized by the symptoms like spinning head sensation, nausea, dizziness, and sudden loss of balance. The severity of vertigo varies from person to person and depends heavily on the root cause. Some common causes include lack of sleep, nutritional deficiencies, migraine, vestibular neuronitis, severe stress, etc. This condition can get resolved on its own if the symptoms are mild with time, but sometimes may also require special attention and therapy. Yoga provides the best solution to give remedy for the root problem causing vertigo and treats the prevalence and severity of its symptoms.
Here are some yoga poses that can help you with vertigo and prevent it from taking a toll on your mind and body.
1) Halasana:
This yoga pose helps to build strength in the body. Physical strength is very important for a person to do daily activities effectively. One must perform Halasana on daily basis to build muscles and generate power. It relieves fatigue and gives good stretching to the whole body. It stimulates the nervous system especially the spine area. It ensures the proper functioning of the thyroid and parathyroid glands.
2) Shavasana:
It creates a balance between your mind and other vital organs. It relaxes the mind and when the mind is relaxed its productivity increases. Shavasana gives a good rest to the whole body after a long day of a hectic schedule. So, it is important for everyone to take some time from their busy schedule and perform this yoga pose for 10 minutes to re-energize themselves.
3) Salamba sirsasana:
Salamba sirsasana also known as the supported headstand. This yoga pose works against gravity and instantly supplies your brain and nervous system with a pull of oxygen and required nutrition, giving symptomatic relief. Though regular practice helps in prevalent vertigo symptoms and can be performed on a precautionary basis, sometimes it is also possible that its practice itself can cause a feeling of spinning or dizziness in the practitioner. So, it is always advised to take the suggestion from a medical practitioner or a well-trained yoga teacher. Better to avoid this pose if you already feeling the symptoms. Try taking the support of the wall during the initial days of practicing this yoga pose.
4) Paschimottanasana:
This seated forward bending pose calms the mind and helps relieve stress and mild depression. This asana is good for the nervous system and improves memory. It significantly reduces negative emotions like anger and irritability and energizes the whole body. It cures headaches, vertigo, and stomach pain. As it provides a good stretch to hips, legs, and hamstring it also provides relaxation to working professionals and students who need to sit for long hours, thus reducing the strain on the heart and chest muscles.
5) Shuddhi Kriyas and pranayamas:
Shuddhikriyas or Cleansing Processes play a very important role in detoxifying and internal cleansing. These cleansing processes are six in number; hence referred to as Shatkriyas. They are Dhauti, Basti, Neti, Nauli, Tratak, and Kapalabhati. Out of these – Tratak (cleansing of eyes), Kapalabhati (cleansing of the sinus), Agnisar (a type of Dhauti for digestion), and Nauli (for cleaning stomach) can be practiced daily. However other cleansing practices can be practiced with a gap of 15-30 days. Similarly, Pranayamas and meditative practices calm the mind along with detoxification. It keeps the body and hormonal functioning in control.
6) Shanmukhi mudra:
Shanmukhi mudra is a yogic hand gesture that is used to close six gates of perception- eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. With the relaxed nervous system, this yogic mudra alleviates vertigo problems and brings a calming effect to the headspace. It is highly effective in managing anxiety levels and removing negative mental patterns. Sahnmukhi mudra is a simple and subtle practice that brightens and rejuvenates the face and eyes and brings about a state of balance leading toward increased awareness and meditativeness.
Yoga poses are aimed at relaxing your mind, body, and soul. Thus, intensifying your healing process. It brings down stress and anxiety levels, energizes your daily activities, improves sleep and nutritional absorption through enhanced blood circulation. Though all these yoga poses are highly effective in treating mild vertigo symptoms, we don’t claim it to replace the use of medications. But with the regular practice of these yoga poses, practices, and kriyas you can definitely go drug-free one day.