Palming the Eyes

Dear Students:
Years ago I met Rosemary Gaddum Gordon a Natural Vision Educator who introduced me to the Bates Method. Soon afterwards, I easily began implementing Bates ideas, into my Feldenkrais practice because it is so complementary.  I continue to mix some concepts together & wish to share a few of them with you today & in months to come.

 

I dedicate this post to a classic Bates technique called palming, which entails blocking out light with your hands so your eyes can bask in darkness for as long as possible. Because the job of seeing is taken away during this process, the optic nerve can rest and the visual & nervous systems can be revitalized.

To help you understand how to properly palm your eyes, the featured video with Nathan Oxenfeld, gives many helpful tips. I include an Awareness Through Movement mini-lesson for you to explore to enhance your palming experience. For those who have over-active eyes & minds and struggle with sitting still, this calming lesson can make palming a possibility for you today or in the future.

For an incentive, know that the more I palm my eyes the more I crave it’s soothing effects. And as I use my eyes better during my daily life, my eyesight & over all well being benefit greatly.

Palming Exploration Combining the Feldenkrais & Bates Methods:
1. Rub your hands together to create heat & then place your cupped palms over your eyes.  Make sure not to touch your eyeballs while you prevent light from seeping through. (Refer to the photo &/or to Nathan demonstrating where to place your hands. Nathan also shows other suitable positions to palm in.)
2. When you are comfortably situated you can start with this short Feldenkrais eye lesson. First, witness the darkest black area in your visual field & any colors that are present. 
3. Imagine that numbers of a clock are to the right of your right eye.  Straight above the eye is 12:00, directly at the right corner is 3:00 & below in the midline is 6:00.  Fill in 1:00, 2:00, 4:00 & 5:00 in their appropriate spots.
4. From the mid-point where your eyes are settled, gently concentrate on moving your right eye to 12:00 and return to the middle. Pause. If you can’t do this pleasantly, just imagine moving your eyes instead. Become aware of the quality of your eyes in motion. [Do not forcefully move or strain your eyes throughout this min-lesson. If you become dizzy or nauseous, stop immediately as this is a sign of stress & skip ahead to step 10.]
5. Next, simply move your right eye from your middle, towards each of the numbers on the right side of the clock & return to mid-point. Pause after each motion. For example: go from the middle to 1, then from middle to 2, etc. Notice which number is the easiest & which is most difficult to travel towards & away from. 
6. Rest & gaze into the distance noticing any changes in the colors & blackness. 
7. Explore the left side of the clock by simply initiating the movements with your left eye.  Situated at corner of your left eye is 9:00. Imagine where 11, 10, 8, & 7 are placed. 
8. Rest. Take note of which numbers take less effort to get to on each side of the clock.  Which numbers require more effort? What does this tell you about how you use your eyes & how you carry your head?
9. If you want, explore more eye movements from the left to the right side of the clock.  This can give you clarity on how vision habits effect the ways you express yourself. For example: move from the center, diagonally from 1:00 to 7:00 and/or horizontally from 9:00 to 3:00, etc.  How does your head respond? Rest.
10. Do nothing while continuing to palm your eyes & pretend you are looking into outer space. Discover how you are releasing unnecessary eye strain.  Find out what it is like to get lost in the vastness as the dilation of your pupils grow.
11. When you are no longer curious or interested in your process, take your hands away and let light enter your eyelids & then slowly open them. Blink often as you let light enter.  After a moment, lazily look around & observe if the quality of your vision is different.  How vibrant are colors?  How do you see the edges of objects?  Do you see more clearly near or far away?  Experiment and let vision come to you. 

I highly suggest when you are ready to palm, not to set a goal for how long to do it.   When you set a time limit, most likely your focus will be drawn to the ticking of the clock. This can rob you from learning how to lessen excessive tension during your session.

If the chatter inside your head makes you uncomfortable, use this opportunity to listen to it without judging it.  Rather than trying to quiet your mind, become aware of any disturbing thoughts, feelings & sensations. Sit with your anxiety & allow your emotions to flow & sense any physical pains, or negative thinking.  Once you fully feel that which you distract yourself from, it can be released from your body so you can heal & grow.

To watch a short video by Rosemary entitled, Vision, Eyes & Emotions, click here. May you discover what rejuvenated eyes feel like & it’s many benefits! Peace.
~Donna