As I stare at my phone and computer for hours at a time, my eyes start to feel a little weary. My friends have commented on their eye strain more and more, since we all seem to gravitate towards our screens for work and pleasure. It turns out that rolling the eyes, as shown below, can help.

It’s a yogic tradition to exercise the eyes. Practicing these exercises are known to help alleviate various conditions of the eyes, such as myopia (nearsightedness) and hypermetropia (farsightedness). They can strengthen the eye muscles and help improve vision.

I have added these methods into my daily routine and have found them helpful for the relief from eye strain.

Take a little time and try it for yourself. When you practice the sequence below, sit up tall with your spine and head straight. Be sure to practice with a meditative mind. No judgements with your eye rolls, please.


Around the Clock

Starting at 12:00 allow your eyes to go in a clockwise direction around the clock, briefly focusing and then going around to next number, focus on 12:00, 1:00, 2:00 and so on around the clock, finishing back up at 12:00. Do this twice and then close your eyes and relax.

 

 

Upper Left – Lower right

Focus your eyes to upper left corner of the room, then focus your eyes to lower right, closer in towards your body. Upper left, lower right fast and focused. Do this 4 or 5 times and then change sides and focus on the upper right and then the lower left. Then close your eyes and relax.

Between the Brows and Tip of the Nose

This one looks silly. You look up to the place between your eyebrows and then down at the tip of your nose. Fast and focused. Do this 5 – 10 times. Then close your eyes and relax.

Palming Your Eyes

Clap your hands together and rub them together creating heat between your hands. Once you have generated heat in the palms of your hands, place your palms over your eyes and allow the heat of your hands to absorb into your eyes.

Practicing these yoga eye exercises regularly can help you relieve stress in your eyes and face and can help your eyes function at their best. Individuals with previously diagnosed eye conditions should consult a doctor before performing these exercises.

Sue Anne Parsons 500 EYT, CYT – owner of Let It Go Yoga since 1986

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