10 Of The Best Yoga Poses For Headaches (PHOTOS)

When you feel a headache coming on, suddenly the only thing that matters is relieving that tension -- and fast. But if you're looking for a solution outside of a pill bottle, consider trying a yogic breathing exercise or a soothing spinal twist. With the ability to help relieve tension, boost circulation, and calm the mind, yoga can be a powerful natural remedy for headaches.

"Yoga helps to release tension and stress in the body, and the majority of headaches are usually tension-related," Lynn A. Anderson, Ph.D. , doctor of naturopathy and certified yoga instructor, tells The Huffington Post. "Yoga gives the individual an opportunity to slow down and relax, and also really improves circulation throughout the body. Anytime you improve circulation, that improves pain and stress."

Specific poses can help target some of the underlying causes of your headaches, like stress and tightness, according to Anderson.

"With yoga, you have oxygen and the blood flow going to the brain," says Anderson. "The majority of your life, gravity is pulling you down towards the earth. Your body flow is all going down and pooling towards your feet. So it's a good idea to get that flow going up in the opposite direction towards the brain -- that's what we do with yoga."

If you're feeling a headache coming on -- or just need a little stress relief -- try one of the 10 headache-busting yoga poses in the slideshow below.