Enhance Your Practice: Incorporating Eye Yoga Into Your Routine

Ever find yourself wanting to get more out of your time on the mat? As we look forward to this week's Mindful Monday, let's explore a practice you might not have thought of before—eye yoga. Yep, yoga for your eyes! Eye yoga, or simply moving your eyes deliberately during yoga or other activities, can give you more than you expected. It's a way to enrich your practice without adding extra time, because who of us couldn't use a bit more efficiency?

Think about it for a second. We spend so much time on our devices and in front of screens that it’s easy to feel strain in those little muscles around our eyes. But there’s a simple solution: incorporating eye yoga into your existing practice. It’s akin to drishti, where we focus our gaze for concentration, yet it's a little more dynamic, delivering benefits that extend beyond the mat.

So how do you do this? When you're on the mat, practice integrating these simple eye movements into your yoga poses. Take, for example, the rotation of your head—allow your gaze to follow, bringing your focus into the corners of your eyes. As you turn your chin from one side to the other, it becomes a journey for your eyes too. In downward-facing dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana), drop your chin towards your chest, and guide your eyes down your nose—reach them subtly towards your navel.

Then, consider something like triangle pose (Trikonasana). As you extend your arm upwards, let your gaze roam up to your fingertips and beyond, rolling your eyes just a tad further as if trying to peek behind you. These small shifts create a big impact. They aren't just about preventing eye strain—they can stimulate relaxation and enhance how you engage with each pose. It’s fascinating how connected the entire body is, isn't it?

Remember, it’s the tiny changes that make a difference. By simply adjusting where you look during your next practice, whether it's gentle yoga, chair yoga, or on a yoga walk, you’re nurturing those often-overlooked muscles that support your vision. And these benefits stack up!

Let's reflect on making these small shifts in awareness, just a tweak in your routine. How might this influence your sense of presence during practice? Where could incorporating these movements also fit into moments of everyday life? It's not only about what happens on the mat. It's about living more mindfully in every part of your day.

Ready to enhance your practice? Check out our schedule of online and in-person gentle yoga classes to explore eye yoga further with us. You might just find your vision, both metaphorically and literally, sharpening.

I look forward to seeing you soon. Click here to view our full class calendar and make a commitment to your mindfulness journey!