What is Vision Yoga?

Vision yoga is a holistic vision therapy that combines the transformative effects of Yoga, Somatic Movement and Natural Vision Improvement.

Vision is a process which involves our eyes, mind, and body, so we will be exploring how to bring harmony and balance to our whole being.

Vision Yoga uses simple and easy movements and techniques to release tension and promote relaxation.

Who is it for?

Vision Yoga is especially useful people with vision issues, but it is also beneficial for those who want to maintain healthy eyesight.

It’s excellent for developing hand-eye coordination for dance, sports and improving Yoga practice. It is also beneficial for creative people that want to harness their imagination and expand their way of seeing.

Naomi has 20 years teaching experience and will be able to accommodate the class to suit your needs.

Vision Yoga is suitable for all levels of students, including beginners.

What’s the benefit?

As Vision Yoga is a holistic therapy, you’ll notice clarity and improvement in your overall health and wellbeing.

Through this practice, Naomi has improved her Myopia (short sightedness), Astigmatism (blurry vision), dry eyes and avoided getting Presbyopia (old age sight). She’s also gained many other health benefits such as better memory and imagination, and co-ordination.

People have also reported seemingly unrelated benefits such as release in tension around neck and shoulders, improved mental clarity and better sleep. It has even changed the appearance of wrinkles, as they’ve learnt how to relax their face.

How can I lean more?

There is a Vision Yoga class every Friday from 12:15-1:00pm at the Bristol Yoga Centre, in Bristol UK. You can also join this class online. Please book via our booking system.

You can also check our Vision Yoga website for upcoming events.

If you have a specific issues or problems that you’d like to address, you may want to arrange a private class. Please feel free to contact Naomi for more information.

Our 1-2-1 classes are available online or in-person at Bristol Yoga Centre or at Naomi’s home practice room. For more details on price and locations, please visit Vision Yoga, private class page.

In the winter months, we tend to spend more time indoors and doing things on screens, especially in lockdown. Whilst it’s amazing that we have the technology to communicate with our friends and family and be able to work online, it can be straining for the eyes and mind.

According to the Concise Human Body Book, eyesight provides the brain with more information than all other senses combined – more than half of the input in the conscious mind is estimated to enter through the eyes. With so much information coming in, it can do wonders to take a break and give them well-deserved rest.

Palming is sometimes taught in yoga classes to refresh and relax the eyes and mind. It can also help to release facial muscles and naturally reduce frown lines.

In the Bates Method, palming is used to restore natural vision through relaxation. Nathan Oxenfeld, a Bates Method and Yoga Teacher said,

‘Palming is the most important and beneficial form of relaxation in the Bates Method. The warmth of your hands relaxes the six muscles around each eye and attracts more energy and blood flow. The darkness relaxes the ciliary muscles, retina and optic nerves.’

Nathan recommends doing palming from 3 to 10 times a day for 30 seconds to over 30 minutes. Give it a go and see how your eyes and mind feels after palming!

How to do Palming

Wash your hands before the practice

Short Practice

Rub your hands together to create some heat. Cover your eyes gently with the palm of your hands. You can either keep your eyes opened or closed. Let your eyes naturally move, as they want to. Breathe in and out slowly and mindfully. After couple of minutes, slide your hands off. Repeat again couple of times if you have the time.

Longer Practice

Choose to lie down or sit up. Make sure that you’re comfortable by using cushion or pillow to support the arms and blankets to make sure you’re warm.

During a longer session of palming, you can listen to your favourite music, radio or podcasts. You can also try visualising pleasant happy memory, using all of your senses. For example, sunny day out on the beach. You can recall the sounds of the waves, smell of the sea, feel of the water on your skin and the taste of ice cream.

When you’re ready to come out of palming, slowly take the hands away and open your eyes slowly to adjust them to lights. Try blinking your eyes softly few times.

You can use eye pillow or masks instead of your palms but it can be very therapeutic to use your own warm hands.

It’s best to gradually lengthen the time of palming so that your arms and hands do not over tire.