Medindia: Yoga & Eye Sight

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Misty L. Trepke

http://health.

 

 

Yoga and Eye Sight

http://www.medindia.net/Yoga-Lifestyle/yoga-Eye.htm

 

" The fastest way to bring the mind into concentration is through the

eyes " -Swami Sitaramananda

 

 

It is said that face is the index of the mind and eyes are windows

of the soul. On a tangible level, eyes are our only windows to the

world.

 

Human eyes need care and attention. As years go by, the muscles

around the eyes lose their tone. Eyesight becomes weak after the

muscles around the eyes lose their elasticity and become rigid,

thereby reducing the power to focus different distances. Also,

tension around the eyes affects the brain causing stress and anxiety.

 

Eyesight is dramatically improved when the muscles of the eyes are

relaxed. There is a deep correlation between the eyes and the mind.

It is said that vision occupies 40 percent of the brain's capacity.

Therefore, when we close our eyes, relaxation is induced in the

brain. Eye health corresponds with the level of relaxation that it

experiences.

 

Eye on yoga

 

Yoga plays a significant role in promoting eye health. A yoga

routine replete with asanas, pranayama and meditation helps in

achieving peace and tranquility. Yogic eye exercises strengthen the

muscles of the eyes and thus help in curing many ailments of the

eyes. Certain eye exercises are known to completely rectify eye

problems. With yoga, people begin treating their eyes with care,

which reflects in good eye health.

 

The renowned late William H. Bates, an ophthalmologist, claimed that

vision could be improved with eye exercises like palming, eyeball

rotations and gaze shifting. So, eye exercises are important to any

individual and should be incorporated into the regular yoga routine.

These exercises can be performed after the asanas.

 

Asana for the eyes

 

Shavasana or the corpse pose

 

Before beginning the eye exercises, it is important to assume the

corpse pose to relax all the body parts.

 

Steps

1. To do this pose, one should lie motionless on the floor and close

the eyes.

2. All the body parts from the toes to the head should be in a

relaxed state.

3. In this relaxation posture, total calmness, peace is felt when

the whole body and mind have taken complete rest.

 

Exercises for the eyes

Sit erect with hands on your knees.

Lift your eyes and find a point, which you can see without any

strain.

Then shift your gaze down to the floor and find a point where you

can focus effortlessly. This shifting of gaze at a particular point,

up and down is an excellent exercise for the eyes.

Breathing should be even and regular.

 

Note

The body must be relaxed and the head should not move when the eye

exercises are performed. Except for the eyes, the body parts should

be in a relaxed position.

 

Palming

 

This exercise is very good for the eyes and produces a calming

effect on the nervous system. Palming is very useful to break the

stress of the eyes because eyes need darkness to recover from the

stress of light. So when we cover the eyes and breathe deeply, we

experience release from tension in the eye muscles. The nerves are

enriched with a rich supply of blood.

 

Steps

1. Rub your palms till they are charged with heat and gently place

the palms over the eyes.

2. While cupping the palm over the eyes, take care not to apply

direct pressure on the eyes. The eyes should relax in the darkness

and stillness.

 

The warm prana current flowing from the palms relieves the tension

and strain around the eye muscles.

 

Horizontal eye movements

 

1. Move the eyes from left to right and again right to left and

relax the eyes with cupping the hands over the eyes.

2. Then move the eyes diagonally from left top to right bottom and

right top to left bottom.

3. Then rotate the eyes in full circles in clockwise direction and

anti- clockwise direction 10 times.

 

Eye rotation

1. Keep the eyes open.

2. Lift your eyes up and then lower them.

3. Continue to do this for 10- 12 times without blinking. The

movements of the eyes should be steady and relaxed.

 

Trataka (gazing)

 

This technique is capable of obliterating the diseases of the eye.

This kriya also improves vision, aids in concentration and purifies

the mind.

 

Steps

1. Sit on the floor in a comfortable position with the spine erect.

2. Keep the eyes open and fix your gaze on any object like a candle

or a picture of 'Om'.

3. Without blinking, gaze steadily at the object till tears flow

from the eyes. Do not strain the eyes and breathe deeply.

 

Pranayama and Meditation

 

After Trataka, one can try to concentrate on the tip of the nose or

on the point between the eyebrows. The point between the eyebrows is

called the third eye center or ajna chakra. According to yogis,

concentrating on this chakra prepares the mind for meditation.

 

The period of meditation is preceded by pranayama. This means simple

breathing exercises that involve drawing in the breath to a count of

4, holding the breath to a count of 4 and releasing the breath to a

count of 4, which marks as one practice. 4:4:4 is the ratio to be

maintained for this breathing exercise.

 

Inhalation- 4 counts

Retention- 4 counts

Exhalation-4 counts

 

After pranayama, one can start to meditate on the divine within.

Restless thoughts must be gently pushed away and concentration on

the sound of 'Om' produces peace and tranquility in the mind of the

practitioner.

 

Reference

 

Submitted by : Mrs.Uma

Edited by : Mrs. Savitha

 

www.vistamagonline.com

www.indoindians.com

www.holistic-online.com

www.abc-of-yoga.com

www.yogajournal.com

www.lifepositive.com

www.yoga.com

www.hotlib.com

www.yoga.org.nz

www.indolink.com