I became interested in Natural Vision Improvement in 2020, after hearing about it on a yoga podcast.

I had progressive myopia (inability to see far) with astigmatism (distorted vision) and suffered from eye fatigue, infection and extremely dry eyes. Every year, my eyesight was getting worse, and I knew there was also a high chance of getting presbyopia (inability to see close by) as I got older. This prompted me to explore ways of looking after my vision.

I wondered why I never questioned the established orthodoxy that eyes cannot heal. I’ve had personal experience of healing my body naturally and understood the concept of neuroplasticity, so if my body and mind can heal, why can’t my eyes?

I read many books and attended classes and courses on Natural Vision Improvement and Somatic Movement. I learned how deeply eyes and mind are intwined, and the importance of relaxation and mindfulness. My in-depth understanding of yoga became essential in healing.

After several years of experimentation, I managed to improve my eyesight and got rid of my eye problems. I also prevented presbyopia and found my overall mental and physical wellbeing improved. My years of upper body tension started to disappear, and my memory and imagination became better.

I’m currently doing a Teacher Training with Bates Method International and I am excited to share my unique holistic approach.

I’m happy to announce that I’ll be starting a weekly Friday lunchtime Vision Yoga class and Intro to Vision Yoga: Clarity for the Eyes and Mind at the beginning of this year.

You can read more about Vision Yoga on my new website.

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.