Headache release, it's all connected.

Do you suffer from headaches?  Perhaps neck and upper back pain too? Although headaches can be caused from many conditions sometimes a good old fashion tension headache can improve by releasing a few key areas. Try these two simply things to help release those tense muscles. First, the hair pull.  Gently take a handful of your hair in one hand very close to your scalp and make a soft fist.  This should pull the hair a bit which will release the connective tissue between your scalp and skull.  If you can handle more pull try twisting your fist either clockwise or counter clockwise a bit. Repeat these steps starting from one side of your head and working your way around the entire scalp.  This should provide some relief by loosening the connective tissue around the skull and possibly into the neck. Second, the base of the skull release.  Place your hands on either side of your head with your finger tips pointing upwards towards the ceiling. This should easily position your thumbs at the base of your skull.  Place them right next to each other and apply gentle pressure inwards and upwards. Hold and take deep breaths until you feel a sense of release under your thumbs.  Then move them out and repeat. Do this until you have worked your way to the outer most part of the skull. Repeat the whole process if you like.  This should help release the small muscles at that attach from your skull to your first and second vertebra (the atlas and axis) of your spine.  These little muscles are involved in the reflex we each have to keep our eyes on the horizon, no matter where our posture might place our head.  This means that the muscles that run down your back and along your spine are hard wired into these little muscles, so that they can respond quickly to what your eyes tell them to.  By releasing them you send a message to all the other muscles, starting a chain reaction of relaxation. Want to know more, or need a bit more release from the tension. Call me to schedule a massage 720-297-2622.