Yoga Exercises For The Eyes

TV, computer screens, driving, cell phones...what do all of these have in common? They are stressful on the eyes.

Eye strain can lead to headaches and feeling tired - even if you've had enough sleep. So if your eyes are feeling strained, take about 10 minutes to do the following yoga eye exercises:

1. First, rub your hands together vigorously to create a warmth in the palms.

2. Place your warm palms gently over your eyes and hold them there for a few moments. Take a few long, deep breaths.

3. Look straight ahead. Now do the following sequence: look up, look to the upper right, look to the right, look to the lower right, look down, look to the lower left, look left, look to the upper left, look up. Repeat this sequence 2X

4. Now reverse the sequence: look up, look to the upper left, look left, look to the lower left, look down, look to the lower right, look right, look to the upper right, look up. Repeat this sequence 2X.

5. Now do one slow circle with your eyes clockwise. Look all the way up, to the right, down, and to the left. Keep the eye movements fluid. Make two complete circles.

6. Now reverse the sequence, going counter clockwise. Look all the way up, to the left, down and to the right. Keep the eye movements fluid. make two complete circles.

7. Look straight ahead. Now blink your eyes rapidly for a few moments.

8. Look straight ahead. Begin long, deep breathing. Imagine the air coming in through your eyes as you breathe in. Imagine the air coming out through your eyes as you breathe out. Breath with your eyes. Repeat these long deep breaths, breathing through your eyes, 5X.

9. Focus on an object in front of you. Now, make that object as clear as possible. Really focus. Concentrate.

10. Now relax the focus on the object. Let the object fade into the distance. Let the object appear blurry- as if you are staring off into space. Relax the eyes.

11. Now repeat the previous two exercise with the object in front of you. First bring the object into crystal clear focus. Next, allow the object to fade into the distance and become blurry. Do this sequence 5X.