The vision is part of the 5 primordial senses in human beings and some animals. The eyes are the organs that make up the sense of sight. They are receptors of the light stimuli that man perceives, transforming into electrical impulses to the brain to create the possibility of seeing images, the shape of objects, distinguishing colors, identifying distances, and detecting movements.
The eyes within their physiological structure have extrinsic muscles in the eyeball, which is the integration of the segments, layers, cells, and nerves of the eyes. These external muscles generate the combined and controlled action of the movements of the eyes allowing them to move vertically, laterally, and rotationally to form unique, correct, and distinguishable images in the brain.
In Yoga and health exercises, a lot of attention is paid to the eyes and the focus. That is why in the last 30 years, techniques for strengthening ocular muscles are taught to develop more clarity in the perception of images and movement. William Bates (1989), distinguished American ophthalmologist in his Practical Guide to Natural Health, designed a simple method of visual reeducation where it expresses that many of the visual disorders can be attenuated by strengthening the external muscles of the eyes because many of the visual disorders are caused by muscular imbalances which can be corrected with visual training.
Exercises to strengthen the eyes:
1. With closed eyelids, take deep inhalations and deep exhalations, making the breathing conscious. Slowly separate the eyelids and vertically take the look as high as possible and as low as possible without moving the face. This is a unique movement of the eyes. Repeat 7 to 12 movements.
2. Perform movements with the eyes horizontally. Carry the look as much as possible from one side to the other (right and left). Repeat 7 to 12 movements.
3. Blink subtly 5 to 3 times to clear the vision. Perform movements in diagonals from top to bottom. Then reverse the meaning. Repeat 7 to 12 movements.
4. Blinking 5 to 7 times relaxing the facial muscles. Perform circular movements with the eyes taking the look from below upwards then from top to bottom. Perform the same number of movements on both sides.
5. Fix the gaze at a fixed point as far as possible. Try not to blink for a few seconds or even minutes. This exercise causes some burning in the eyeball to blink subtly. Repeat this exercise 7 to 12 times.
6. Starting from the previous exercise, take the index finger of the right hand to the front, fully extending the elbow, trying to pay full attention to the fingerprint of the finger. Then, the gaze is directed to a distant point. It will begin to focus and blur, alternating the focus between the far point and the finger at the same time you start to bring your finger to your face. Immediately the finger moves away from the face and continues with the aforementioned approach. Repeat this routine 7 to 12 times.
7. Take a deep inhale, drop the eyelids to exhale. Bring the palms of the hands to the face and perform a light circular massage on the eyelids.
Benefits:
- Activate the muscles of the eyeballs.
- Stimulate the lacrimal glands.
- Increase the elasticity of the eyeballs.
- Avoid excessive tensions in the external muscles of the eye, which causes headaches and wrinkles.
