The most fascinating aspect of any living creature, human or animal, is their eyes. I am constantly amazed at how such small organs help us process the entirety and enormity of the universe.
The eye is symbolic of divine wisdom, truth and self-awareness in many religions and philosophies. The eyes reveal what no amount of words and actions can: one’s true character. How we use our eyes, like not making eye contact when we lie or blinking too much when we are nervous, sends out subconscious clues and reveals how we think or feel regarding things. Our eyes are truly the windows to our soul. Caring for our eyes and using them consciously is important for our overall well-being and spiritual health, too.
It is difficult to navigate when our primary sense organs are suffering due to our excessive use of modern technology, like computers and phone screens, and lack of sleep. Dark eye circles, headaches caused by tired eye muscles, dry and itchy eyes and double vision are common even amongst younger people these days. Yoga prescribes palming to release the muscles around the eyes and stimulate the optic nerve to induce a deep state of relaxation. Because this technique involves no equipment, one can take multiple palming breaks during the day.
Eye health is 10 per cent physical and 90 per cent mental, so relaxing the mind and freeing it of worry is a major key to eye health. The simple procedure given below outlines how to exercise your eyes.
PalmingSit in a position such that your spinal cord is in a straight line. Keep your chin parallel to the ground.
Prepare for the process by rubbing your palms together briskly to warm up their surface area.
Place your palms lightly over your eyes, making sure that no light enters. But do not press your palms into your eyes. Focus on the warmth coming from your palms.
Breathe deeply and allow yourself to relax. Focus on how you inhale and exhale.
Visualise an image that will help you relax mentally. A good example is a moonlit night or a dark, starry night.
Stay here for 20 deep breaths.
