“Yoga & Natural Health” is a new column for Puna Rising’s Talk Story. It will be an educational and participatory series whose purpose is to support the beauty of the body’s internal system. Maintaining the well-being of our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health requires a consciously dedicated lifestyle.
Being deeply rooted in the practice of yoga for over 50 years, I intend to offer inspiration for health and balance to our readers. Articles will include a short, effective yoga practice or introduce you to a health practitioner in our community. We will explore the positive effects of yoga techniques and movement, and acquaint your with nutritional foods and various natural healing modalities to rekindle the inner flame of optimum resiliency.
We are so lucky to see the beauty of nature surrounding us; majestic mountains, ancient trees, the movement of waterfalls, and the constancy of ocean waves. Flowers of all colors and rainbows stimulate our hearts. Seeing the sunrise and sunset, and the star patterns changing at night reminds us of how fortunate we are to watch these natural celestial patterns appear and transform again.
Our eyes see the brilliance of artistic creations designed by human hands and we see each other every day. Not to take it for granted; the function of seeing occupies 40% of the brain’s activity. Yoga practice includes specific eye exercises to maintain and enhance our vision. Actively stretching and intentionally relaxing the eye muscles will strengthen and soothe them. Swami Satchidananda recommends a sequence of extending the eye muscles in different directions. With regular practice, mental concentration develops and eyesight can be improved.
Sit comfortably upright in a chair, on a yoga mat, or a pillow with the eyes open. Place the palms down on your lap. Begin by taking a few smooth, long breaths in and out through the nose. Relax as much as possible. Gaze outward without really focusing on anything. Keep your head still and level it in its place. Now close your eyes. Feel the moisture under the eyelids and how the top eyelid meets the bottom eyelid. Soften the mouth and avoid pursing the lips tight.
Open your eyes again. Look upward and then down. Look to the right and then to the left, all with the head remaining still. Be aware of the transition from one direction to another, as if we were forming lines of eye energy. Close your eyes to rest. Pause and be attentive to your breathing.
This next practice resembles looking at a traditional clock. Open your eyes again. Stretch them up to the location of 12 o’clock and slowly move around the clock to 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00. Circle all the way around this clock to the top again. In reverse, move the eyes counterclockwise, from 12:00, to 11:00, 10:00, 9:00, and so on, returning 11 to 12 o’clock. This technique can be repeated by following the same sequence, two or three times slowly.
Upon completion, close your eyes. Rub your hands together vigorously to create heat between them. Place your palms over the eyes. Let the warmth soothe them. Gently move the fingertips down the forehead and massage the skin under the eyebrows, around the eyes, and underneath them. Lightly place the fingertips to touch the closed eyelids. Return your hands to your lap and open your eyes again.
Take the in-sight you have gained from this practice into the visual experiences of Life.
Suggestion: Practice this eye-strengthening technique every day. It takes less than one minute to go around the clock.
Marcia Galleher
Marcia Galleher, instructor for over 30 years, offers intuitive based teaching rooted in Hatha Yoga. Her classes focus on integrating the mind and body through a creative sequence of postures combined with conscious breathing. A resident of Kalapana Seaview Estates for nine years, Marcia provides community classes at her home Yoga Studio, at Kalani Oceanside Retreat and online to beginning and continuing students. In conjunction with teaching yoga, she is a wife to John Galleher for many years, a mother and grandmother 'Nani'. Marcia's passions include being an artist, gardener, musician and explorer of western and Mayan astrology. She believes all our thoughts, actions and spoken words are to be considered, supporting harmony and cooperation in the world we share. All is One.