Origin of eye yoga inspired by ancient yoga and Ayurveda techniques, eye yoga is based on movements designed to restore mobility, strength,h and rest to the eyes. Although these techniques have ancient roots, they have been adapted to the needs of our digital age, where problems such as eye fatigue, or asthenopia, are increasingly common.
What is asthenopia and how does it affect us?
Asthenopia, technically known as eye fatigue, includes a series of symptoms such as:
- Red or dry eyes
- Pain around the eyes
- Blurry vision
- Sensitivity to light and reflections
- Headaches, and even double vision in severe cases
These symptoms usually appear after hours of close work such as using computers or smartphones, where the blinking rate decreases, causing dryness and eye fatigue.
Additionally, our eyes evolved to look into the distance, not to engage in constant close-focus activities, which creates chronic eye stress and, in some cases, can increase eye pressure and lead to more serious problems like glaucoma.
Benefits of yoga for eyes
Regular practice of eye yoga can bring visible improvements quickly. So much so that these techniques can be considered “instant focus techniques” due to the speed with which they alleviate symptoms and improve visual clarity.
Some of the benefits include
- Reduction of eye fatigue and visual stress
- Improves natural eye lubrication and relieves dryness
- Increased ocular circulation, reducing puffiness and dark circles
- Relief from headaches and forehead tension
- Improves sleep quality by relaxing the nervous system
What are the main exercises?
1- Relaxing palming: Rub the palms of your hands together until they feel warm. Cover your closed eyes with your hands, without pressing. This exercise relaxes the eye muscles and helps reduce tension accumulated by stress and prolonged use of screens.
2- Infinity figure eight gaze: Imagine a number lying in front of you. Follow the path with your gaze without moving your head. This improves eye mobility and flexibility.
3- Focus shift: Extend one arm and focus on your thumb. Then direct your gaze to a distant object, alternating between the two points. This exercise strengthens the focusing muscles and reduces eye strain.
4- Conscious blinking: blink gently and steadily for one minute. This exercise increases the natural lubrication of the eyes, counteracting the effects of prolonged close work.
5- Lateral movement: Without moving your head, move your eyes from one side to the other, looking at the edges of your visual field. Repeat several times to relieve eye stiffness.