Which headaches this applies to
| Type | Character | Feldenkrais relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Tension-type | Band-like pressure, both sides, worse with stress or prolonged posture | Directly relevant |
| Cervicogenic | Arises from the neck, one-sided, provoked by neck movement | Often helpful |
| Migraine | Throbbing, one-sided, with nausea or light sensitivity | Not a treatment; may help associated neck tension |
| Cluster | Severe, orbital, cyclical | Not relevant — requires medical care |
Where the holding comes from
The muscles involved in tension headache — upper trapezius, suboccipitals, temporalis, masseter, and the muscles of the scalp and forehead — share a common feature: they are all recruited by concentration and stress, and they all stay on once recruited.
Three habitual drivers:
- Fixed eyes with a held head. Screen work locks the eyes and produces a characteristic pattern of scalp and forehead tension.
- Clenched jaw. Directly connected to the temporal region.
- Shallow upper-chest breathing. Recruits neck and shoulder muscles thousands of times a day for work the diaphragm should do.
What the lessons do
Release the suboccipital region
The small muscles at the base of the skull are among the most reliably overworked in the body. Lessons that explore tiny head movements — rolling, nodding, sliding the head in relation to the neck — often produce immediate relief here, precisely because the movements are small.
Separate the eyes from the head
Lessons that move the eyes with the head, then against the head, address the concentrated-staring pattern directly. The effect on forehead and scalp tension is often noticeable.
Soften the jaw and tongue
Because the temporalis and masseter refer pain into the temple and around the ear, jaw work is routinely part of headache-focused lessons.
Restore diaphragmatic breathing
Reducing the neck's role in breathing removes an enormous daily load. This tends to have the most durable effect of any single change.
Improve the head's support
When the head is well supported by an organised spine and rib cage, the neck and scalp muscles can stop stabilising it. Much of the work is on the trunk rather than the head.
A short sequence
- Lie on your back, knees bent. Let the head rest. Notice where it contacts the floor.
- Tiny head rolls. Very slowly, let the head roll a few millimetres to the right, then back, then left. Do not lift it. Notice where the movement stops.
- Eyes with the head. Turn the eyes and the head together to the right, a small amount. Then eyes alone. Then head alone. Then eyes opposite to the head.
- Jaw awareness. Let the teeth part. Notice the tongue. Slide the jaw a few millimetres sideways.
- Breathing into the lower ribs. On each exhale, let the lower ribs soften downward. Do not breathe deeply — let it happen.
- Rest for two full minutes with the eyes closed.
- Sit up slowly and notice whether the head feels lighter and the forehead softer.
What to expect
People with frequent tension headaches often report reduced frequency and intensity after a series of lessons, and — importantly — improved ability to catch the pattern early. The self-observation skill is the durable part: once you notice the jaw and forehead tightening at 3 p.m., you can intervene before the headache establishes.