Don’t Neglect Vision Health: How to Fit Eye Yoga Into Your Routine

The benefits of yoga and pilates cannot be overstated. Yoga can enhance your flexibility and physical balance and strengthen your mind-body connection. On the other hand, pilates can help you strengthen core muscles and improve body alignment. While these regimens can contribute to your physical health, you should also prioritize your ocular well-being through the help of eye yoga. 

 Eye yoga, simply put, is an exercise that involves ocular movements that combat the risks of eye strain, especially in the digital age where the global average screen time has reached six hours and 40 minutes per day, a 30-minute per day increase since 2013. Celebrities like Paul McCartney have attributed their healthy vision to eye yoga exercises such as eye-rolling. But does it really work?

 Below, we take a look at why eye yoga matters and some eye yoga exercises you can try to preserve ocular health.

What is eye yoga, and why does it matter?

 Eye yoga comprises simple exercises, like gazing and blinking, which are crucial for engaging and strengthening ocular muscles. With the rising rates of myopia and other vision problems worldwide, prescription glasses have become a common vision correction tool that has become more accessible. Eyewear retailer FramesDirect makes these specs available online, with a price-match guarantee for lowered frame prices and free shipping on domestic orders. Although having an updated prescription is essential, eye yoga can also aid in improving vision health.

 A National Institutes of Health (NIH) study found that yoga practices incorporating eye exercises and relaxation techniques can enhance blood circulation in the eyes and reduce eye strain. Online resources like YouTube can provide eye exercise videos you can follow, but some exercises can be easily done and inserted into your daily routine. Here are some yoga exercises to try:

Eye yoga exercises for better vision health

Eye rolling

To promote healthy ocular movements, you can roll your eyes clockwise. You can sit down or stand up straight, relax your shoulders, and start by looking up without moving your head, then begin rolling your eyes to the right, down the floor, and finally to the left before looking straight ahead and then taking a short pause. Afterward, you can roll your eyes in a counter-clockwise position: begin by looking up, turning to the left, down, and finally to the right. And just like that, you’ve successfully relaxed your eye muscles, which were probably already tired and overworked. 

Rapid blinking

 Research published in MDPI mentioned that the average blinking rate is about 15 to 20 times per minute, but this decreases to four to six times per minute when we use a computer, leading to dry eyes, which can be painful. To combat this, try a round of rapid blinking. Sit straight, then blink your eyes quickly, from 10 to 15 seconds. Do this exercise every hour to provide enough eye moisture and prevent dryness.  

 Palming

 To relax your eyes, rub your hands together for 10 seconds to warm your palms, and then close your eyes and cover them completely with your palms. Take deep breaths, focus on the darkness, and try to clear your mind. NIH research has shown that palming revitalizes eye muscles and stimulates aqueous humor circulation, which is crucial in maintaining proper ocular pressure. This calms not only your eyes but also your mind, helping you feel at ease and less overwhelmed. 

Being in tip-top shape involves prioritizing all aspects of your health, from physical and mental to visual. Follow these eye yoga exercises so you don’t neglect your vision health. If you're looking for more health articles and personal fitness equipment, check out the Beyond Balance website.