An old French adage says, "The eyes are the windows to the soul." Yet neuroscientist researchers view the eyes as windows to the brain and are studying how attention, emotions and individual differences affect vision. Yoga postures, breathing and meditation can positively affect the body, brain and soul, according to the National Center of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. A regular practice of the postures, breath exercises and meditation can relax your eye muscles and reduce overall stress.
Postures
Yoga poses, called asanas, can help to de-stress your body and mind and improve your eyesight. You can incorporate the corpse pose, or savasana, throughout your practice. In this pose, you lie on your back with your eyes closed, which takes you deep into stillness and calm as it relaxes your eye muscles.
Other helpful poses for the eyes are mountain, tree, triangle, cobra and headstand. Neck rolls help to relieve stress, improve alignment and regulate blood flow to the optic nerves and brain.
Breathing Exercises
Breath exercises are called pranayama, which is Sanskrit for "extending the llfe force." Alternate nostril breathing helps you balance the right and left sides of your brain by focusing on one nostril at a time. Bhramari pranayama is practiced by taking a deep breath and humming like a bee on the exhale. This is also called humming bee breath and calms the nervous system. You can learn these techniques from a yoga teacher.
Meditation
One meditation technique, known as "trataka," is mentioned in ancient yoga texts such as the Upanishads. Trataka is practiced by gazing steadily at a candle flame about three feet in front of you. Then, you close your eyes and visualize that flame for as long as possible. This practice helps you focus your mind as well as your eyes.
Eye Yoga
The website holisticonline.com offers several yoga exercises specifically for strengthening the eye muscles, reducing eyestrain, refreshing ophthalmic nerves with a fresh blood supply and improving eyesight. The exercises include gaze-shifting: looking up and down, side to side and diagonally up and down; and focusing back and forth from your finger next to your nose to a specific point in the distance.
Another stress-relieving eye exercise is "palming," where you rub your hands together until they get warm and then place your palms on your closed eyes as you breathe gently. This is a good way to end your eye yoga practice.
Insight
Paul McCartney made a video showing some of these eye yoga exercises, which he learned in India and claims to have improved his vision. A link for you to watch Sir Paul demonstrate is in the Resources section.
